Chemical Engineer salary in Boston, MA
Based on 117 certified H-1B filings in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge, Norwood, Waltham, Lexington, Burlington.
Also listed as: Process Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $72,800 |
| 25th | $94,265 |
| 50th (median) | $127,360 |
| 75th | $136,261 |
| 90th | $157,250 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $98,217 | $75,000 | $114,280 | 66 |
| FY2021 | $110,000 | $86,424 | $124,200 | 89 |
| FY2022 | $105,000 | $81,800 | $125,000 | 108 |
| FY2023 | $100,490 | $82,118 | $120,989 | 76 |
| FY2024 | $115,694 | $83,650 | $131,519 | 70 |
| FY2025 | $122,355 | $89,778 | $136,261 | 74 |
| FY2026 | $130,000 | $105,705 | $146,786 | 43 |
Cost of living
Boston's median Chemical Engineer salary of $127,360 is worth about $117,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boston = 108.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Chemical Engineers in the Boston, MA area earned a median of $109,460 in May 2025 (910 employed). The H-1B median here is $127,360, 16% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $71,000 | 15 |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | $136,261 | 12 |
| ModernaTX | $136,261 | 11 |
| Amgen | too few | 5 |
| Applied Materials | too few | 5 |
| Altext | too few | 4 |
| Sanofi US Services | too few | 4 |
| Adden Energy | too few | 3 |
| Sanofi Pasteur | too few | 3 |
| AspenTech | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $75,000 | 25 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $107,910 | 22 |
| Senior · Level III | $130,075 | 20 |
| Expert · Level IV | $146,786 | 36 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $52,957 | $75,000 | 25 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $107,910 | $107,910 | 22 |
| Senior · Level III | $127,358 | $130,075 | 20 |
| Expert · Level IV | $136,261 | $146,786 | 36 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.