Machine Learning Researcher.
Boston.
$169,000
median salary, 20% above the national average
$116,000 to $224,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Boston is 22% more expensive than the national average. For Machine Learning Researchers, that shakes out to a median of $169,000, with the full range spanning $116,000 to $224,000. Publication record in top-tier venues like NeurIPS, ICML, and ICLR is the strongest salary differentiator. Know the range before you walk in. 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 Machine Learning Researcher 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 $170,510 for Computer and Information Research Scientists (SOC 15-1221) in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area, based on 1,620 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$77,160
25th percentile
$119,920
Median
$170,510
75th percentile
$216,180
90th percentile
$249,910
Workers surveyed
1,620
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Computer and Information Research Scientists (SOC 15-1221) rather than Machine Learning Researcher 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 15-1221Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $152,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$110,000
to $135,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$144,000
to $177,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$186,000
to $220,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$211,000
to $262,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $70,000 to the total package.
Base
$169,000
Equity
$42,000
Bonus
$18,000
Signing
$10,000
Estimated total: $239,000
How Boston compares.
Boston, MA
$169,000
Cost of living: 22% above average
National Average
$141,000
Boston is $28,000 above
Machine Learning Researcher salary by city.
Salary by role in Boston.
What you should know.
Here is what the Machine Learning Researcher 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. Publication record in top-tier venues like NeurIPS, ICML, and ICLR is the strongest salary differentiator. Researchers with first-author papers at these conferences command 15 to 25% premiums. Industry labs at major tech firms pay significantly more than academic positions or smaller startups.
Research interns start at $45,000 to $65,000 for summer positions. Junior researchers earn $140,000 to $170,000, while senior researchers reach $200,000 to $280,000. Principal researchers and research directors at major labs can exceed $400,000 in base salary alone. 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. Total compensation at top labs often doubles base salary through equity grants and annual bonuses of 20 to 40%. Many positions include conference travel budgets, compute credits, and sabbatical programs for independent research. 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 $169,000, 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 Machine Learning Researchers in Boston runs from $116,000 to $224,000. 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?
- An AI Research Scientist in Boston earns $170,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Boston is CTO at $381,000
- See all ai research roles tracked in Orbyt Intelligence
Common questions.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Machine Learning Researcher Salary in Boston, MA." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/machine-learning-researcher/boston
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