Entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary in Boston, MA
Based on 68 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge, Waltham, Danvers, Wilmington, Andover.
Also listed as: Mechanical Design Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $70,304 |
| 25th | $81,120 |
| 50th (median) | $85,000 |
| 75th | $93,240 |
| 90th | $103,063 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $70,720 | $70,429 | $79,520 | 43 |
| FY2021 | $72,500 | $71,053 | $80,000 | 37 |
| FY2022 | $74,963 | $72,738 | $81,225 | 64 |
| FY2023 | $78,000 | $74,963 | $87,000 | 37 |
| FY2024 | $82,000 | $73,750 | $85,500 | 35 |
| FY2025 | $85,000 | $80,850 | $90,010 | 36 |
| FY2026 | $86,338 | $84,531 | $95,746 | 32 |
Cost of living
Boston's median entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary of $85,000 is worth about $78,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boston = 108.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Mechanical Engineers in the Boston, MA area earned a median of $119,300 in May 2025 (6,890 employed). The H-1B median here is $85,000, 29% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| SharkNinja Operating | too few | 4 |
| EAW North America | too few | 3 |
| Formlabs | too few | 3 |
| Harvard University | too few | 3 |
| Dassault Systemes Americas | too few | 2 |
| Foxx Life Sciences | too few | 2 |
| General Hospital | too few | 2 |
| Home Tech Innovation | too few | 2 |
| Mascon | too few | 2 |
| Premier Life Sciences | 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 | $85,000 | 68 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $103,231 | 96 |
| Senior · Level III | $129,329 | 58 |
| Expert · Level IV | $148,717 | 44 |
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 | $84,531 | $85,000 | 68 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $103,210 | $103,231 | 96 |
| Senior · Level III | $121,909 | $129,329 | 58 |
| Expert · Level IV | $140,587 | $148,717 | 44 |
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.