Chemical Engineer.
Boston.
$146,000
median salary, 20% above the national average
$115,000 to $182,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Chemical Engineer in Boston earns a median of $146,000 in 2026. That is 20% above the national average. The range runs from $115,000 to $182,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Industry sector is the top differentiator, with petroleum, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical chemical engineers earning 20 to 35% more than those in food processing or water treatment. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Chemical Engineer in Boston, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $109,460 for Chemical Engineers (SOC 17-2041) in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area, based on 910 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$67,810
25th percentile
$79,110
Median
$109,460
75th percentile
$144,030
90th percentile
$176,120
Workers surveyed
910
Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $146,000 is 33% higher than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and Chemical Engineers covers a different population than the Chemical Engineer title as it is typically advertised. Both are shown, unreconciled, so you can judge which one describes the job you mean.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Chemical Engineers (SOC 17-2041) rather than Chemical Engineer specifically. The Boston range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 17-2041Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $131,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$95,000
to $117,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$124,000
to $153,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$161,000
to $190,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$183,000
to $226,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $39,000 to the total package.
Base
$146,000
Equity
$22,000
Bonus
$14,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $185,000
How Boston compares.
Boston, MA
$146,000
Cost of living: 22% above average
National Average
$122,000
Boston is $24,000 above
Chemical Engineer salary by city.
Salary by role in Boston.
What you should know.
Here is what the Chemical Engineer market actually looks like in Boston. Boston's job market is powered by world class universities, a thriving biotech corridor, and established finance and healthcare sectors. The Kendall Square area is one of the most concentrated biotech hubs globally. Tech salaries in Boston are competitive with West Coast markets, particularly for roles that intersect with life sciences, AI, and robotics. Industry sector is the top differentiator, with petroleum, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical chemical engineers earning 20 to 35% more than those in food processing or water treatment. Process scale-up experience, Six Sigma certification, and expertise with hazardous materials handling drive additional premiums.
Entry-level chemical engineers start at $76,000 to $88,000. Senior process engineers earn $100,000 to $128,000 after five to eight years. Engineering directors and plant managers reach $140,000 to $185,000 in high-demand industries. In Boston, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 22% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
Base salary is not the full picture. Oil and gas employers add 10 to 20% bonuses tied to production targets. Semiconductor fabs offer equity grants worth $10,000 to $40,000 annually. Shift differentials of 5 to 15% apply for engineers managing 24/7 production facilities. And on the tax side: massachusetts has a flat 5% income tax on most earnings, plus a 4% surtax on income above $1 million. There is no city income tax in Boston, keeping the total burden moderate. When someone quotes you $146,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Emphasize specialized credentials or advanced degrees. Boston employers, especially in biotech and finance, place a premium on educational pedigree and certifications. The range for Chemical Engineers in Boston runs from $115,000 to $182,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Robotics Engineer in Boston earns $145,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Boston is CTO at $381,000
Common questions.
Chemical Engineer salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Boston.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Chemical Engineer Salary in Boston, MA." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/chemical-engineer/boston
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