Entry-level Chemical Engineer salary in Boston, MA
Based on 25 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $65,480 |
| 25th | $69,000 |
| 50th (median) | $75,000 |
| 75th | $88,000 |
| 90th | $91,058 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $71,037 | $67,750 | $80,405 | 20 |
| FY2021 | $72,100 | $68,707 | $86,380 | 15 |
| FY2022 | $77,490 | $68,512 | $80,000 | 26 |
| FY2023 | $81,994 | $78,000 | $85,397 | 21 |
| FY2024 | $82,118 | $66,793 | $88,000 | 13 |
| FY2025 | $75,000 | $67,975 | $87,600 | 19 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 6 |
Cost of living
Boston's median entry-level Chemical Engineer salary of $75,000 is worth about $69,300 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 $75,000, 31% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $71,000 | 10 |
| Adden Energy | too few | 3 |
| Amgen | too few | 2 |
| ModernaTX | too few | 2 |
| University of Massachusetts Lowell | too few | 2 |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | 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.