Mid-level Chemist salary in Boston, MA
Based on 51 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II 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 | $97,760 |
| 25th | $97,760 |
| 50th (median) | $106,080 |
| 75th | $116,000 |
| 90th | $130,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $82,000 | $76,874 | $88,590 | 32 |
| FY2021 | $85,000 | $77,500 | $113,206 | 46 |
| FY2022 | $87,882 | $81,518 | $90,000 | 46 |
| FY2023 | $91,992 | $88,992 | $109,075 | 23 |
| FY2024 | $97,760 | $91,790 | $105,000 | 37 |
| FY2025 | $99,840 | $97,760 | $110,000 | 31 |
| FY2026 | $111,043 | $106,023 | $123,148 | 20 |
Cost of living
Boston's median mid-level Chemist salary of $106,080 is worth about $98,000 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 $106,080, 17% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Amgen | too few | 6 |
| Alnylam | too few | 3 |
| Cambridge Isotope Laboratories | too few | 2 |
| DuPont Electronic Materials International | too few | 2 |
| ModernaTX | too few | 2 |
| Northeastern University | too few | 2 |
| Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research | too few | 2 |
| Pharmaron (Boston) Lab Services | too few | 2 |
| Polycarbon Industries | too few | 2 |
| Sanofi Pasteur | 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 | $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.