Mechanical Engineer Salary in Boston, MA
Mechanical Engineers in Boston, MA earn a median of $90,000/year, ranging from $69,300 (25th percentile) to $144,000 (90th percentile). After Massachusetts state taxes (5%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 162), this is equivalent to $55,556 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in Boston, MA
Boston's concentration of medical device companies — including Boston Scientific, Medtronic's local offices, and dozens of biotech startups — creates strong demand for mechanical engineers with biomedical specialization. The defense sector via Raytheon in Waltham and General Dynamics in nearby locations adds further opportunities.
1Salary Distribution in Boston, MA
2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power
* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.
How Does Boston, MA Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA (current) | $90,000 | 162 | $55,556 |
| San Francisco, CA | $102,000 | 186 | $54,839 |
| New York, NY | $97,000 | 187 | $51,872 |
| Seattle, WA | $99,000 | 162 | $61,111 |
| Austin, TX | $81,000 | 124 | $65,323 |
| Denver, CO | $78,000 | 128 | $60,938 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Mechanical Engineer salary in Boston, MA?
The median Mechanical Engineer salary in Boston, MA is $90,000 per year, based on 2026 BLS OEWS-calibrated estimates. The 25th percentile is $69,300 and the 90th percentile is $144,000.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a Mechanical Engineer?
Boston, MA has a cost of living index of 162 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $90,000 Mechanical Engineer salary in Boston, MA is equivalent to $55,556 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Boston, MA?
Boston, MA has a cost of living index of 162, meaning it is 62% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in Massachusetts is approximately 5%.
What is the Mechanical Engineer salary range in Boston, MA?
In Boston, MA, Mechanical Engineers earn between $69,300 (25th percentile) and $144,000 (90th percentile), with a median of $90,000 per year.
How many Mechanical Engineer jobs are there in Boston, MA?
We estimate approximately 63,000 Mechanical Engineer positions in the Boston, MA metropolitan area. This employment figure is a modeled estimate calibrated to BLS OEWS staffing patterns, not a direct BLS metro count for this occupation.
What do Mechanical Engineers earn in Boston, MA?
Based on 2026 BLS OEWS-calibrated estimates, Mechanical Engineers in Boston, MA earn a median annual wage of $90,000. The middle 50% earn between $69,300 and $115,200. The top 10% earn more than $144,000. There are approximately 63,000 Mechanical Engineers employed in the Boston, MA metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 4.1%.
Is Boston, MA a good place for a Mechanical Engineer?
Boston, MA has a cost of living index of 162 (US average = 100), making it 62% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a Mechanical Engineer in Boston, MA earning $90,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $55,556 relative to the US median. Massachusetts has a state income tax rate of approximately 5%.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Boston, MA?
Boston, MA's cost of living index is 162, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $90,000 in Boston, MAhas the same purchasing power as $55,556 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.
Compare Boston, MA with Another City
See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.
5Should You Work as a Mechanical Engineer in Boston, MA?
The headline median of $90,000 is only part of the picture. Boston, MA's cost of living index is 162 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here buys roughly 62¢ of what it buys in an average US city. The $90,000 salary effectively purchases $55,556 worth of goods and services at national-average prices.
Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In Boston, MA, the median household typically spends 35–45% of gross income on housing — significantly above the 28% "affordable" threshold most lenders use. For a $90,000 salary, that translates to roughly $36,000/year on housing alone.
State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. Massachusetts levies a state income tax of approximately 5%, which reduces take-home by roughly $4,500 per year on this salary. States with zero income tax (Texas, Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada) offer a structural advantage, but often offset it with higher sales tax or property tax. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $79,002. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: San Francisco, CA ($102,000 median, COL 186); New York, NY ($97,000 median, COL 187); Seattle, WA ($99,000 median, COL 162). If you're optimizing for purchasing power, compare the COL-adjusted column in the table above and pick the highest number. If you're optimizing for career progression, weight total employment and yearly growth in the role — larger markets offer more lateral moves and promotion velocity, even when nominal pay is lower.
The 4.1% year-over-year growth rate for Mechanical Engineers in Boston, MA is a leading indicator of market health. Healthy growth at a steady pace — enough to support mobility but not so fast that compensation is racing ahead of credentials. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Mechanical Engineers or the Massachusetts state overview.
Underlying wage source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. These figures are modeled estimates: scaled from BLS OEWS wage ratios rather than read directly from a BLS metro table for this occupation. Treat them as approximations. All figures are approximate annual estimates. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data. See our data disclaimer.