Expert Chemical Engineer salary in Boston, MA
Based on 36 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $136,261 |
| 25th | $136,261 |
| 50th (median) | $146,786 |
| 75th | $160,000 |
| 90th | $187,713 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2021 | $145,000 | $134,878 | $153,241 | 19 |
| FY2022 | $135,022 | $124,857 | $146,250 | 28 |
| FY2023 | $131,539 | $129,106 | $137,500 | 13 |
| FY2024 | $154,788 | $131,013 | $159,543 | 19 |
| FY2025 | $136,261 | $136,261 | $156,969 | 22 |
| FY2026 | $156,800 | $146,840 | $162,593 | 14 |
Cost of living
Boston's median expert Chemical Engineer salary of $146,786 is worth about $135,600 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 $146,786, 34% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | too few | 7 |
| ModernaTX | too few | 6 |
| Sanofi US Services | too few | 3 |
| Applied Materials | too few | 2 |
| Eli Lilly and Company | too few | 2 |
| Emd Millipore | too few | 2 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 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.