Economist salary in Boston, MA
Based on 170 certified H-1B filings in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge, Chestnut Hill, Salem, Lynnfield, Malden.
Also listed as: Research Economist, Associate Economist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $92,500 |
| 25th | $103,164 |
| 50th (median) | $151,705 |
| 75th | $189,966 |
| 90th | $235,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $90,000 | $78,000 | $150,000 | 81 |
| FY2021 | $100,003 | $80,538 | $149,275 | 86 |
| FY2022 | $108,972 | $89,241 | $165,000 | 63 |
| FY2023 | $126,250 | $92,500 | $180,000 | 62 |
| FY2024 | $138,900 | $103,368 | $180,000 | 69 |
| FY2025 | $124,912 | $95,974 | $180,000 | 102 |
| FY2026 | $178,000 | $115,000 | $191,225 | 68 |
Cost of living
Boston's median Economist salary of $151,705 is worth about $140,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boston = 108.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Economists in the Boston, MA area earned a median of $108,140 in May 2025 (820 employed). The H-1B median here is $151,705, 40% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Analysis Group | $170,000 | 46 |
| The Brattle Group | $103,164 | 17 |
| Cornerstone Research | $230,000 | 16 |
| CRA International | $225,000 | 13 |
| Keystone Strategy | too few | 9 |
| Econic Partners | too few | 7 |
| Harvard University | too few | 5 |
| Boston College | too few | 4 |
| Calera Capital Management, L.P. | too few | 3 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | too few | 3 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $103,164 | 76 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $133,487 | 40 |
| Senior · Level III | $178,000 | 32 |
| Expert · Level IV | $205,433 | 22 |
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 | $83,782 | $103,164 | 76 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $112,590 | $133,487 | 40 |
| Senior · Level III | $141,419 | $178,000 | 32 |
| Expert · Level IV | $170,227 | $205,433 | 22 |
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.