Software Engineer salary in Boston, MA
Based on 5,782 certified H-1B filings in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge, Waltham, Burlington, Quincy, Natick.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $114,253 |
| 25th | $130,000 |
| 50th (median) | $147,846 |
| 75th | $172,744 |
| 90th | $189,998 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $110,000 | $92,000 | $128,627 | 4,989 |
| FY2021 | $115,939 | $97,760 | $136,512 | 4,370 |
| FY2022 | $125,000 | $100,048 | $150,000 | 4,836 |
| FY2023 | $129,210 | $109,200 | $151,000 | 3,460 |
| FY2024 | $136,000 | $113,350 | $160,000 | 3,006 |
| FY2025 | $144,651 | $123,000 | $171,048 | 3,192 |
| FY2026 | $154,606 | $131,082 | $176,540 | 2,590 |
Cost of living
Boston's median Software Engineer salary of $147,846 is worth about $136,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boston = 108.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Boston, MA area earned a median of $166,090 in May 2025 (42,310 employed). The H-1B median here is $147,846, 11% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $154,400 | 491 |
| State Street Bank and Trust Company | $137,688 | 184 |
| The MathWorks | $151,742 | 170 |
| $173,000 | 131 | |
| Fidelity Investments | $134,868 | 117 |
| Wayfair | $175,000 | 109 |
| Staples | $149,240 | 103 |
| Microsoft | $158,100 | 89 |
| Akamai Technologies | $156,878 | 86 |
| athenahealth | $148,124 | 74 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $112,040 | 808 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $133,133 | 2,110 |
| Senior · Level III | $159,000 | 1,136 |
| Expert · Level IV | $182,000 | 1,011 |
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 | $107,557 | $112,040 | 808 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $122,970 | $133,133 | 2,110 |
| Senior · Level III | $154,606 | $159,000 | 1,136 |
| Expert · Level IV | $178,131 | $182,000 | 1,011 |
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.