Expert Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Boston, MA
Based on 417 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Quincy, Cambridge, Portsmouth, Burlington, Framingham.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $140,733 |
| 25th | $142,602 |
| 50th (median) | $153,046 |
| 75th | $175,000 |
| 90th | $199,952 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $118,000 | $111,238 | $134,370 | 328 |
| FY2021 | $120,000 | $108,597 | $144,150 | 312 |
| FY2022 | $124,800 | $111,134 | $149,804 | 388 |
| FY2023 | $141,856 | $121,700 | $160,000 | 234 |
| FY2024 | $151,923 | $141,856 | $178,541 | 239 |
| FY2025 | $152,000 | $151,923 | $173,300 | 216 |
| FY2026 | $155,000 | $140,733 | $175,000 | 201 |
Cost of living
Boston's median expert Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $153,046 is worth about $141,400 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 $153,046, 26% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cognizant | $140,733 | 55 |
| State Street Bank and Trust Company | $140,733 | 24 |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | $151,923 | 15 |
| Boston Consulting Group | $156,000 | 13 |
| Fidelity Investments | $140,733 | 10 |
| Amazon | too few | 9 |
| Emc | too few | 9 |
| Accenture | too few | 8 |
| Staples | too few | 8 |
| Biogen | too few | 7 |
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.