Mid-level Software Engineer salary in Boston, MA
Based on 2,110 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II 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 | $122,970 |
| 25th | $128,830 |
| 50th (median) | $133,133 |
| 75th | $150,286 |
| 90th | $170,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $96,242 | $91,874 | $105,000 | 2,267 |
| FY2021 | $100,000 | $96,242 | $115,000 | 1,900 |
| FY2022 | $108,000 | $99,944 | $125,000 | 2,031 |
| FY2023 | $113,926 | $108,181 | $132,066 | 1,533 |
| FY2024 | $122,970 | $113,000 | $140,610 | 1,241 |
| FY2025 | $131,085 | $122,970 | $146,111 | 1,232 |
| FY2026 | $137,775 | $131,082 | $155,000 | 878 |
Cost of living
Boston's median mid-level Software Engineer salary of $133,133 is worth about $123,000 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 $133,133, 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.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $158,300 | 249 |
| $168,500 | 80 | |
| The MathWorks | $131,082 | 73 |
| Microsoft | $153,550 | 54 |
| Staples | $141,500 | 42 |
| athenahealth | $138,020 | 37 |
| Compunnel Software Group | $131,100 | 37 |
| Akamai Technologies | $133,353 | 31 |
| DK Crown Holdings | $131,082 | 30 |
| Deloitte | $131,082 | 26 |
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.