Mechanical Engineer (R&D) salary in Boston, MA
Based on 35 certified H-1B filings in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge.
Also listed as: Researcher Iii Mechanical Engineering
Median salary$72,700
Middle 50%$70k–$95.3k
vs. national median−19%comparison median $90,063
Filings35FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
National median
$50k$60k$70k$80k$90k$100k$110k$120k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $66,950 |
| 25th | $70,000 |
| 50th (median) | $72,700 |
| 75th | $95,285 |
| 90th | $101,680 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2021 | $70,000 | $62,300 | $78,900 | 11 |
| FY2022 | $68,400 | $55,599 | $78,250 | 12 |
| FY2023 | $67,475 | $65,000 | $72,000 | 14 |
| FY2024 | $78,707 | $70,000 | $85,000 | 15 |
| FY2025 | $71,000 | $68,969 | $83,675 | 22 |
| FY2026 | $95,285 | $71,000 | $100,000 | 13 |
Cost of living
Boston's median Mechanical Engineer (R&D) salary of $72,700 is worth about $67,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boston = 108.3).
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $72,700 | 31 |
| General Hospital | 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 | $71,000 | 16 |
| Mid-level · Level II | – | 0 |
| Senior · Level III | $95,285 | 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 | $47,798 | $71,000 | 16 |
| Senior · Level III | $66,352 | $95,285 | 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.