Chemist salary in Boston, MA
Based on 223 certified H-1B filings in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge, Waltham, Woburn, Lexington, Norwood.
Also listed as: Quality Control Chemist, Analytical Chemist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $79,098 |
| 25th | $97,760 |
| 50th (median) | $128,750 |
| 75th | $144,950 |
| 90th | $160,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $88,514 | $72,878 | $103,321 | 102 |
| FY2021 | $98,500 | $76,906 | $119,230 | 150 |
| FY2022 | $100,797 | $81,224 | $122,850 | 174 |
| FY2023 | $110,000 | $86,450 | $129,584 | 107 |
| FY2024 | $114,421 | $91,790 | $133,648 | 122 |
| FY2025 | $119,413 | $96,353 | $141,500 | 145 |
| FY2026 | $132,250 | $115,000 | $150,534 | 78 |
Cost of living
Boston's median Chemist salary of $128,750 is worth about $118,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boston = 108.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Chemists in the Boston, MA area earned a median of $127,290 in May 2025 (2,960 employed). The H-1B median here is $128,750, 1% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| ModernaTX | $102,116 | 15 |
| Eli Lilly and Company | $155,632 | 14 |
| Amgen | $133,223 | 13 |
| Takeda Development Center Americas | too few | 9 |
| Wave Life Sciences | too few | 8 |
| Alnylam | too few | 7 |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | too few | 7 |
| Alkermes | too few | 6 |
| Northeastern University | too few | 6 |
| Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research | too few | 6 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $79,082 | 43 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $106,080 | 51 |
| Senior · Level III | $130,424 | 60 |
| Expert · Level IV | $156,964 | 60 |
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 | $76,086 | $79,082 | 43 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $97,760 | $106,080 | 51 |
| Senior · Level III | $119,413 | $130,424 | 60 |
| Expert · Level IV | $141,086 | $156,964 | 60 |
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.