Validation Engineer salary in Boston, MA
Based on 241 certified H-1B filings in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge, Wilmington, Waltham, Charlestown, Bedford.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $100,250 |
| 25th | $117,156 |
| 50th (median) | $144,612 |
| 75th | $175,667 |
| 90th | $190,256 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $92,165 | $80,000 | $107,261 | 196 |
| FY2021 | $96,075 | $84,050 | $105,137 | 246 |
| FY2022 | $101,899 | $84,345 | $115,000 | 236 |
| FY2023 | $118,303 | $100,000 | $140,000 | 120 |
| FY2024 | $120,000 | $100,547 | $155,000 | 95 |
| FY2025 | $139,460 | $105,000 | $171,650 | 110 |
| FY2026 | $149,247 | $126,992 | $180,000 | 131 |
Cost of living
Boston's median Validation Engineer salary of $144,612 is worth about $133,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boston = 108.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Validation Engineers in the Boston, MA area earned a median of $133,940 in May 2025 (2,490 employed). The H-1B median here is $144,612, 8% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Symbotic | $143,166 | 28 |
| Boston Dynamics | $190,052 | 21 |
| Boston Dynamics AI Institute | $185,000 | 16 |
| Pickle Robot Company | $140,400 | 15 |
| Robotics and AI Institute | $187,320 | 10 |
| Berkshire Grey | too few | 7 |
| Covidien | too few | 7 |
| Analog Devices | too few | 6 |
| Motional AD | too few | 6 |
| Globus Medical | too few | 5 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $96,200 | 33 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $120,049 | 64 |
| Senior · Level III | $149,247 | 69 |
| Expert · Level IV | $183,872 | 69 |
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 | $83,450 | $96,200 | 33 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $112,819 | $120,049 | 64 |
| Senior · Level III | $125,424 | $149,247 | 69 |
| Expert · Level IV | $159,619 | $183,872 | 69 |
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.