Software Engineer Salary in Boston, Massachusetts (2026)
Median base salary of $177,000/year for Software Engineer professionals in Boston. Full breakdown by experience level, take-home estimates, and market context.
Median Salary
$177,000
per year
Hourly Rate
$85/hr
40 hrs/wk
Monthly Pay
$14,750
before taxes
Est. Take-Home
$112,129
after taxes/yr
Software Engineer Salary by Experience — Boston
| Level | Annual | Monthly | Hourly | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry (0–2 yrs) | $121,000 | $10,083 | $58/hr | $76,654 |
| 25th Percentile | $138,000 | $11,500 | $66/hr | $87,423 |
| Median | $177,000 | $14,750 | $85/hr | $112,129 |
| 75th Percentile | $226,000 | $18,833 | $109/hr | $125,091 |
| Senior (8+ yrs) | $252,000 | $21,000 | $121/hr | $139,482 |
City salary estimated from Massachusetts median with a +14% Boston market adjustment. Take-home after federal, FICA, and Massachusetts state taxes (5.0%).
Boston vs. Massachusetts Statewide
Boston Median
$177,000
City-level estimate
Massachusetts Statewide
$155,000
State median baseline
Software Engineer professionals in Boston earn approximately 14% more than the Massachusetts statewide median, reflecting Boston's higher cost of living and local demand for tech talent.
Cost of Living in Boston
Cost of Living Index
162
100 = US average
Median 1BR Rent
$2,800/mo
city median
Annual Rent Burden
$33,600
per year
Rent as % of Salary
19%
of median salary
Boston's cost of living index of 162 means it is 62% more expensive than the US average. At the median Software Engineer salary of $177,000, housing costs represent approximately 19% of gross income — within the recommended 30% guideline.
Top Software Engineer Employers in Boston
Companies actively hiring Software Engineer professionals in the Boston area.
Boston's biotech and SaaS markets are among the strongest in the US, with the highest concentration of life sciences and enterprise software companies outside the Bay Area.
Software Engineer Job Market in Boston
Boston is one of Massachusetts's highest-paying market for Software Engineer professionals, with a population of approximately 680K and a thriving technology sector. The median base salary of $177,000/year reflects both local demand for JavaScript and Python expertise, and the city's cost of living index of 162 relative to the national average of 100.
At the entry level, a Software Engineer in Boston can expect to earn approximately $121,000/year. Senior professionals with 8+ years of experience typically command $252,000/year or more, particularly at larger technology companies or those with in-demand specializations in System Design.
Total compensation — including equity, annual bonuses, and benefits — often adds 20–50% above base salary for Software Engineer roles at growth-stage companies. When evaluating an offer in Boston, always ask about the full compensation package, not just base salary.
Software Engineer Salaries in Other Massachusetts Cities
Related Roles in Boston
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Editorial Standards & Data Methodology
Data Sources
Salary ranges on CareerOS are derived from multiple independent sources:
- •U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
- •LinkedIn Salary Insights
- •Glassdoor Compensation Reports
- •Levels.fyi (tech roles)
- •Indeed Salary Data
Our Methodology
Salary figures represent base compensation only and exclude equity, bonuses, and benefits. Ranges show the 25th–75th percentile for full-time employees in each location. Data is weighted toward recent postings (last 12 months). Take-home estimates apply federal income tax, FICA (7.65%), and applicable state taxes.
Editorial Process
All pages are reviewed for accuracy before publication and updated quarterly. We cross-reference data across sources before publishing any salary range.
Last Updated: May 2026
Review Cycle: Quarterly
Disclaimer: For informational purposes only. Actual compensation varies.