Entry-level Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary in Boston, MA
Based on 34 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge, North Reading, Burlington, Wellesley, Quincy.
Also listed as: Machine Learning Engineer, AI Researcher
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $101,573 |
| 25th | $115,905 |
| 50th (median) | $137,500 |
| 75th | $155,000 |
| 90th | $180,592 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $126,300 | $95,050 | $144,750 | 38 |
| FY2021 | $90,000 | $81,307 | $115,000 | 21 |
| FY2022 | $102,500 | $82,363 | $148,750 | 30 |
| FY2023 | $106,852 | $98,946 | $125,000 | 28 |
| FY2024 | $145,600 | $124,443 | $153,600 | 19 |
| FY2025 | $130,000 | $129,605 | $146,682 | 18 |
| FY2026 | $142,000 | $111,873 | $178,930 | 16 |
Cost of living
Boston's median entry-level Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary of $137,500 is worth about $127,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boston = 108.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer and Information Research Scientists in the Boston, MA area earned a median of $170,510 in May 2025 (1,620 employed). The H-1B median here is $137,500, 19% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | too few | 7 |
| Northeastern University | too few | 2 |
| NVIDIA | too few | 2 |
| University of Maryland College Park | 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 | $137,500 | 34 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $174,800 | 147 |
| Senior · Level III | $195,000 | 67 |
| Expert · Level IV | $224,000 | 33 |
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 | $108,722 | $137,500 | 34 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $143,374 | $174,800 | 147 |
| Senior · Level III | $178,006 | $195,000 | 67 |
| Expert · Level IV | $212,659 | $224,000 | 33 |
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.