Boston software engineer salary: rankings and context
After a simplified 17% national tax estimate that is about US$11,500 a month, in a metro with a cost-of-living index of 100.
Software Engineer pay in Boston: national and in-state ranking
San Jose leads at US$213,110, 28% above Boston, while San Antonio sits at US$128,430. The neighbours in the ranking are New York and San Diego.
Boston is the only observed MA metro for this role, so there is no in-state average to compare; the national and metro ranking above is the better reference.
Take-home, rent and buying power for Boston software engineers
Price levels in Boston (index 100) neither inflate nor shrink the paycheck much; adjusted for costs it is worth about US$166,100.
Adjusting for prices does not move Boston in the ranking: it is 5th of 21 on both cash and buying power.
After a simplified 17% effective national income tax, the median nets about US$11,500 a month. A modeled 1-bedroom (US$1,650) takes 14% of that, leaving around US$7,960 after modeled living costs.
If you compared Boston with similarly priced cities
A software engineer moving from Boston to New York (similar cost level, COL 100) would see the median stay level to US$166,830, with US$50 more left over monthly in our model.
Los Angeles (similar cost level, COL 100) pays US$160,920, 3% less than Boston; modeled monthly leftover is US$330 lower.
In Chicago — similar cost level, COL 100 — the median is US$134,380 (-19% vs Boston), and the modeled budget leaves US$2,010 less each month.
Software Engineer vs other occupations in Boston
Software Engineer ranks 2nd of 9 occupations with observed Boston data. Lawyer leads the city at US$183,350.
Closest neighbours in the Boston list: Data Scientist at US$132,040 (-21%).
Entry-level vs senior software engineer pay in Boston
Boston is relatively stronger at the entry end: its 10th-percentile pay (US$102,950) ranks 3rd of 21, while its 90th percentile (US$214,100) ranks 7th.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$289,150 at the 90th percentile, +35% against Boston.
The software engineer pay range in Boston
Expect wide variation between offers: the 10th percentile is US$102,950 and the 90th US$214,100, a 2.1× ratio.