Chemical Engineers pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,810 a year or less, while the top 10% make $176,120 or more. The middle half of chemical engineers in Boston earn between $79,110 and $144,030.
- $68K10th
- $79K25th
- $109KMedian
- $144K75th
- $176K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $117,840 | $9,820 | $56.65 |
| Median | $109,460 | $9,122 | $52.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $79,110 | $6,592 | $38.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $144,030 | $12,002 | $69.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemical Engineers pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Chemical engineers in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($118,170) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($129,980). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $125,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $117,840 | $109,460 | $67,810 | $176,120 | 910 |
| Massachusetts | $118,170 | $118,000 | $67,810 | $172,170 | 1,460 |
| United States | $129,980 | $125,040 | $79,420 | $182,880 | 21,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemical Engineers salary after taxes in Boston
On the average salary of $117,840, a single filer in Boston takes home about $86,158 a year, or $7,180 a month and $3,314 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $91,730 | $7,644 |
| Working in MA | $86,158 | $7,180 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for chemical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $117,840 buys what about $108,843 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemical Engineers salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 2nd of 3 Massachusetts metro areas for this job; Springfield pays the most ($119,270).
- Springfield$119,270
- Boston$117,840
- Worcester$114,600
Highest-paying cities for chemical engineers
Houston, TX pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($155,750).
- Houston, TX$155,750
- Austin, TX$149,140
- Dallas, TX$147,410
- Lake Charles, LA$144,900
- Trenton, NJ$144,720
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Chemical Engineers salary in Boston: questions
How much do chemical engineers make an hour in Boston?
$56.66 an hour on average, and $52.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemical engineers salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,810 a year and the 25th percentile is $79,110, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemical engineers take-home pay in Boston?
About $86,158 a year ($7,180 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $117,840. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do chemical engineers earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. average for this job ($129,980).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2041; area Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.48, this job is 2.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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