Senior Economist salary in Boston, MA
Based on 32 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III 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 | $151,913 |
| 25th | $168,750 |
| 50th (median) | $178,000 |
| 75th | $221,250 |
| 90th | $239,500 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $150,000 | $135,000 | $175,000 | 21 |
| FY2021 | $150,000 | $131,750 | $175,000 | 20 |
| FY2022 | $165,000 | $165,000 | $170,000 | 15 |
| FY2023 | $180,000 | $180,000 | $186,300 | 14 |
| FY2024 | $180,000 | $167,626 | $180,000 | 14 |
| FY2025 | $170,000 | $168,300 | $181,937 | 20 |
| FY2026 | $226,750 | $173,250 | $241,550 | 12 |
Cost of living
Boston's median senior Economist salary of $178,000 is worth about $164,400 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 $178,000, 65% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Analysis Group | $170,000 | 11 |
| CRA International | too few | 8 |
| Integrity Lab | 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 | $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.