Physicist salary in Boston, MA
Based on 81 certified H-1B filings in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge, Waltham, Durham, Lowell, Chestnut Hill.
Also listed as: Medical Physicist, Assistant Physicist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $69,805 |
| 25th | $72,450 |
| 50th (median) | $84,750 |
| 75th | $125,000 |
| 90th | $180,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $82,721 | $66,500 | $115,131 | 31 |
| FY2021 | $67,225 | $60,000 | $99,272 | 44 |
| FY2022 | $76,679 | $65,000 | $97,962 | 48 |
| FY2023 | $75,000 | $70,000 | $87,825 | 50 |
| FY2024 | $76,679 | $70,000 | $85,750 | 50 |
| FY2025 | $78,793 | $72,059 | $109,346 | 46 |
| FY2026 | $89,024 | $72,650 | $125,000 | 35 |
Cost of living
Boston's median Physicist salary of $84,750 is worth about $78,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boston = 108.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Physicists in the Boston, MA area earned a median of $106,000 in May 2025 (1,060 employed). The H-1B median here is $84,750, 20% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $80,200 | 24 |
| Harvard University | $72,500 | 15 |
| QuEra Computing Incorporated | too few | 7 |
| Trustees Of Boston University | too few | 7 |
| Brigham and Women's Hospital | too few | 5 |
| IonQ Quantum | too few | 4 |
| Northeastern University | too few | 4 |
| Brandeis University | too few | 2 |
| General Hospital | too few | 2 |
| University of Massachusetts Boston | 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 | $75,282 | 54 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $130,100 | 12 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 4 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 4 |
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 | $69,805 | $75,282 | 54 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $89,024 | $130,100 | 12 |
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.