Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Boston, MA
Based on 1,586 certified H-1B filings in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Quincy, Cambridge, Portsmouth, Burlington, Framingham.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $90,501 |
| 25th | $96,616 |
| 50th (median) | $120,000 |
| 75th | $145,000 |
| 90th | $169,100 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $92,498 | $74,789 | $111,238 | 1,415 |
| FY2021 | $100,200 | $80,000 | $120,000 | 1,255 |
| FY2022 | $103,000 | $82,415 | $122,155 | 1,345 |
| FY2023 | $110,000 | $90,641 | $140,000 | 876 |
| FY2024 | $116,355 | $90,854 | $141,856 | 1,001 |
| FY2025 | $119,660 | $96,616 | $146,747 | 926 |
| FY2026 | $120,000 | $92,286 | $144,483 | 660 |
Cost of living
Boston's median Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $120,000 is worth about $110,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boston = 108.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer Systems Engineers/Architects in the Boston, MA area earned a median of $121,230 in May 2025 (4,800 employed). The H-1B median here is $120,000, 1% lower.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cognizant | $115,627 | 229 |
| Infosys | $96,616 | 83 |
| Tata Consultancy Services | $96,616 | 78 |
| State Street Bank and Trust Company | $121,007 | 55 |
| Amazon | $157,600 | 37 |
| Staples | $133,000 | 36 |
| HCLTech | $115,627 | 35 |
| Compunnel Software Group | $120,000 | 28 |
| Wipro | $96,616 | 27 |
| IBM | $124,259 | 25 |
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 | 111 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $96,616 | 619 |
| Senior · Level III | $124,259 | 410 |
| Expert · Level IV | $153,046 | 417 |
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 | $68,952 | $75,000 | 111 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $96,616 | $96,616 | 619 |
| Senior · Level III | $115,627 | $124,259 | 410 |
| Expert · Level IV | $140,733 | $153,046 | 417 |
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.