Data Scientist salary in Boston, MA
Based on 2,022 certified H-1B filings in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge, Waltham, Quincy, Framingham, Burlington.
Also listed as: Machine Learning Scientist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $90,000 |
| 25th | $102,856 |
| 50th (median) | $125,819 |
| 75th | $151,971 |
| 90th | $178,227 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $98,500 | $82,000 | $127,250 | 194 |
| FY2021 | $107,549 | $87,600 | $130,000 | 254 |
| FY2022 | $116,000 | $90,000 | $142,126 | 379 |
| FY2023 | $115,000 | $92,000 | $140,000 | 839 |
| FY2024 | $121,250 | $97,968 | $145,040 | 896 |
| FY2025 | $122,250 | $102,856 | $148,762 | 1,085 |
| FY2026 | $130,000 | $114,088 | $161,803 | 937 |
Cost of living
Boston's median Data Scientist salary of $125,819 is worth about $116,200 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boston = 108.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Data Scientists in the Boston, MA area earned a median of $132,040 in May 2025 (7,930 employed). The H-1B median here is $125,819, 5% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wayfair | $136,500 | 118 |
| Fidelity Investments | $130,656 | 77 |
| Amazon | $133,300 | 68 |
| CVS Health | $130,668 | 34 |
| Chewy | $141,795 | 33 |
| McKinsey & Company | $174,700 | 32 |
| Staples | $119,804 | 32 |
| Boston Consulting Group | $145,000 | 26 |
| General Hospital | $82,000 | 23 |
| Microsoft | $169,836 | 22 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $90,230 | 425 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $114,400 | 695 |
| Senior · Level III | $141,691 | 398 |
| Expert · Level IV | $169,000 | 377 |
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 | $79,914 | $90,230 | 425 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $114,088 | $114,400 | 695 |
| Senior · Level III | $125,819 | $141,691 | 398 |
| Expert · Level IV | $161,803 | $169,000 | 377 |
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.