Environmental Scientist salary in Boston, MA
Based on 42 certified H-1B filings in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge, Somerville, Quincy, Arlington, Stoughton.
Also listed as: Environmental Specialist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $65,374 |
| 25th | $74,250 |
| 50th (median) | $87,667 |
| 75th | $105,000 |
| 90th | $125,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $70,700 | $66,000 | $87,740 | 17 |
| FY2021 | $70,491 | $64,008 | $74,397 | 17 |
| FY2022 | $78,478 | $69,174 | $87,371 | 18 |
| FY2023 | $85,000 | $70,000 | $114,774 | 21 |
| FY2024 | $83,000 | $76,858 | $85,398 | 15 |
| FY2025 | $85,134 | $72,250 | $89,752 | 27 |
| FY2026 | $101,528 | $91,102 | $116,241 | 15 |
Cost of living
Boston's median Environmental Scientist salary of $87,667 is worth about $81,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boston = 108.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in the Boston, MA area earned a median of $100,360 in May 2025 (2,270 employed). The H-1B median here is $87,667, 13% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| EY | too few | 7 |
| Energy and Environmental Economics | too few | 3 |
| BSC Group | too few | 2 |
| Harvard University | too few | 2 |
| Metropolitan Area Planning Council | too few | 2 |
| Mystic River Watershed Association | too few | 2 |
| Stockholm Environment Institute | too few | 2 |
| Sunbender | too few | 2 |
| Sustainserv | 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 | $70,750 | 14 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $89,752 | 21 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 2 |
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 | $65,146 | $70,750 | 14 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $85,134 | $89,752 | 21 |
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.