Network Engineer.
Boston.
$157,000
median salary, 21% above the national average
$123,000 to $198,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
If you are evaluating a Network Engineer offer in Boston, MA, here is the reality: $123,000 to $198,000, with $157,000 as the midpoint. 21% above the national average. CCIE certification remains the single largest salary differentiator, adding 20 to 30% to base pay. Do not accept the first number. 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 Network 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 $160,650 for Computer Network Architects (SOC 15-1241) in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area, based on 5,240 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$100,050
25th percentile
$122,880
Median
$160,650
75th percentile
$173,780
90th percentile
$211,820
Workers surveyed
5,240
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Computer Network Architects (SOC 15-1241) rather than Network 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 15-1241Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $141,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$102,000
to $126,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$133,000
to $165,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$173,000
to $204,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$196,000
to $243,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $36,000 to the total package.
Base
$157,000
Equity
$20,000
Bonus
$13,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $193,000
How Boston compares.
Boston, MA
$157,000
Cost of living: 22% above average
National Average
$130,000
Boston is $27,000 above
Network Engineer salary by city.
Salary by role in Boston.
What you should know.
The Network Engineer landscape in Boston is not what most salary sites will tell you. 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. CCIE certification remains the single largest salary differentiator, adding 20 to 30% to base pay. Engineers managing SD-WAN rollouts, hybrid cloud networking, or large-scale data center fabrics command premium rates. Telecom and financial services sectors consistently offer the highest compensation for network specialists.
Help desk and NOC technicians start at $50,000 to $65,000, advancing to network engineer at $78,000 to $135,000 in three to five years. Senior network architects earn $140,000 to $180,000, and director of network engineering roles reach $185,000 to $240,000. 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. Bonuses of 8 to 15% are standard, with on-call stipends adding $5,000 to $12,000 annually. Employers frequently cover CCIE lab fees and ongoing Cisco or Juniper certification renewals as part of retention packages. 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 $157,000, 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 Network Engineers in Boston runs from $123,000 to $198,000. 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 Systems Engineer in Boston earns $156,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Boston is CTO at $381,000
Common questions.
Network 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.
"Network Engineer Salary in Boston, MA." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/network-engineer/boston
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