Network Engineer Salary in Boston, MA
Network Engineers in Boston, MA earn a median of $105,000/year, ranging from $80,850 (25th percentile) to $168,000 (90th percentile). After Massachusetts state taxes (5%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 162), this is equivalent to $64,815 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in Boston, MA
Network engineers here work across a dense cluster of tech and financial services firms. Notable employers in this market include State Street, Fidelity, and various healthcare IT operations tied to Partners HealthCare and Brigham and Women's Hospital. A 1BR apartment in Cambridge or Somerville runs around $2,000 to $2,400 monthly on a median salary, which stings, but the Red Line and bus network make car ownership optional if you land near transit. Commute times vary wildly depending on your employer's location - the 128 corridor pulls people south and west into suburban office parks, while downtown roles offer walkable neighborhoods. Massachusetts' 5% state income tax eats into that $105k figure more than southern markets, so factor that into your comparison. The winters are genuine here, and network infrastructure gets stress-tested hard during snow events.
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) | $105,000 | 162 | $64,815 |
| San Francisco, CA | $119,000 | 186 | $63,978 |
| New York, NY | $114,000 | 187 | $60,963 |
| Seattle, WA | $116,000 | 162 | $71,605 |
| Austin, TX | $95,000 | 124 | $76,613 |
| Denver, CO | $92,000 | 128 | $71,875 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Network Engineer salary in Boston, MA?
The median Network Engineer salary in Boston, MA is $105,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $80,850 and the 90th percentile is $168,000.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a Network Engineer?
Boston, MA has a cost of living index of 162 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $105,000 Network Engineer salary in Boston, MA is equivalent to $64,815 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 Network Engineer salary range in Boston, MA?
In Boston, MA, Network Engineers earn between $80,850 (25th percentile) and $168,000 (90th percentile), with a median of $105,000 per year.
How many Network Engineer jobs are there in Boston, MA?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 63,000 Network Engineer positions in the Boston, MA metropolitan area.
What do Network Engineers earn in Boston, MA?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, Network Engineers in Boston, MA earn a median annual wage of $105,000. The middle 50% earn between $80,850 and $134,400. The top 10% earn more than $168,000. There are approximately 63,000 Network Engineers employed in the Boston, MA metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 4.1%.
Is Boston, MA a good place for a Network 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 Network Engineer in Boston, MA earning $105,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $64,815 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 $105,000 in Boston, MAhas the same purchasing power as $64,815 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 Network Engineer in Boston, MA?
The headline median of $105,000 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 $105,000 salary effectively purchases $64,815 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 $105,000 salary, that translates to roughly $42,000/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 $5,250 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 $92,169. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: San Francisco, CA ($119,000 median, COL 186); New York, NY ($114,000 median, COL 187); Seattle, WA ($116,000 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 Network 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 Network Engineers or the Massachusetts state overview.
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. 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.