Senior Materials Scientist salary in Boston, MA
Based on 17 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge, Waltham, Woburn, Marlborough, Somerville.
Also listed as: Research Associate Materials Science
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $87,347 |
| 25th | $122,325 |
| 50th (median) | $125,000 |
| 75th | $130,000 |
| 90th | $140,254 |
Cost of living
Boston's median senior Materials Scientist salary of $125,000 is worth about $115,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boston = 108.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Materials Scientists in the Boston, MA area earned a median of $132,600 in May 2025 (700 employed). The H-1B median here is $125,000, 6% lower.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| A123 Systems | too few | 3 |
| DuPont Electronic Materials International | too few | 3 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | too few | 2 |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | 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 | $90,334 | 15 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 2 |
| Senior · Level III | $125,000 | 17 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
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 | $90,334 | $90,334 | 15 |
| Senior · Level III | $121,222 | $125,000 | 17 |
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.