Mechanical Engineers pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,280 a year or less, while the top 10% make $166,900 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in Boston earn between $97,660 and $140,870.
- $80K10th
- $98K25th
- $119KMedian
- $141K75th
- $167K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $122,150 | $10,179 | $58.73 |
| Median | $119,300 | $9,942 | $57.36 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $97,660 | $8,138 | $46.95 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $140,870 | $11,739 | $67.73 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Engineers pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Mechanical engineers in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($121,430) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($113,610). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $104,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $122,150 | $119,300 | $80,280 | $166,900 | 6,890 |
| Massachusetts | $121,430 | $119,300 | $79,570 | $166,480 | 7,680 |
| United States | $113,610 | $104,110 | $73,990 | $164,340 | 296,810 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Mechanical Engineers salary after taxes in Boston
On the average salary of $122,150, a single filer in Boston takes home about $88,968 a year, or $7,414 a month and $3,422 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 | $94,756 | $7,896 |
| Working in MA | $88,968 | $7,414 |
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 mechanical 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 $122,150 buys what about $112,824 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boston$122,150
- Barnstable$117,680
- Worcester$114,130
- Pittsfield$113,890
- Amherst$109,000
- Springfield$104,080
Highest-paying cities for mechanical engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($165,920).
- San Jose, CA$165,920
- San Francisco, CA$158,690
- Santa Cruz, CA$139,810
- Augusta, GA$137,040
- Baton Rouge, LA$136,970
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Mechanical Engineers salary in Boston: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in Boston?
$58.73 an hour on average, and $57.36 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,280 a year and the 25th percentile is $97,660, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in Boston?
About $88,968 a year ($7,414 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $122,150. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do mechanical engineers earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% more than the U.S. average for this job ($113,610).
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 17-2141; area Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 1.33, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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