Expert Validation Engineer salary in Boston, MA
Based on 69 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge, Wilmington, Waltham, Charlestown, Bedford.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $157,695 |
| 25th | $162,456 |
| 50th (median) | $183,872 |
| 75th | $194,688 |
| 90th | $225,171 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $139,500 | $135,000 | $151,648 | 14 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2023 | $180,000 | $164,000 | $185,000 | 10 |
| FY2024 | $158,616 | $150,000 | $165,891 | 13 |
| FY2025 | $180,000 | $159,823 | $187,467 | 25 |
| FY2026 | $185,000 | $171,750 | $210,825 | 44 |
Cost of living
Boston's median expert Validation Engineer salary of $183,872 is worth about $169,800 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 $183,872, 37% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Dynamics | $220,000 | 13 |
| Symbotic | $159,721 | 10 |
| Boston Dynamics AI Institute | too few | 9 |
| Robotics and AI Institute | too few | 9 |
| Analog Devices | too few | 2 |
| Analog Photonics | too few | 2 |
| Autel | too few | 2 |
| HyperLight | too few | 2 |
| Motional AD | too few | 2 |
| Stellix Global Services | 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 | $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.