Entry-level Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Boston, MA
Based on 111 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Quincy, Cambridge, Portsmouth, Burlington, Framingham.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $66,555 |
| 25th | $68,952 |
| 50th (median) | $75,000 |
| 75th | $87,250 |
| 90th | $96,400 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $62,200 | $55,037 | $70,000 | 104 |
| FY2021 | $70,000 | $56,764 | $85,000 | 71 |
| FY2022 | $65,000 | $57,696 | $80,000 | 72 |
| FY2023 | $73,778 | $65,458 | $80,500 | 49 |
| FY2024 | $76,163 | $66,000 | $85,000 | 69 |
| FY2025 | $72,500 | $68,964 | $85,000 | 66 |
| FY2026 | $80,000 | $66,560 | $90,000 | 45 |
Cost of living
Boston's median entry-level Systems Engineer / Architect 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 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 $75,000, 38% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| State Street Bank and Trust Company | too few | 8 |
| Authright | too few | 7 |
| Zifo Technologies | too few | 5 |
| Staples | too few | 4 |
| Amazon | too few | 3 |
| Amgen | too few | 2 |
| Baanyan Software Services | too few | 2 |
| Cambridge Mobile Telematics | too few | 2 |
| CloudEQS | too few | 2 |
| e-Share | 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 | 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.