Electrical Engineer Salary in Boston, MA
Electrical Engineers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $128,610 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $92,960 take-home, or $7,747 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median electrical engineer salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,600
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,974
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,865
- Massachusetts income tax$6,211
- Take-home pay$92,960
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Electrical Engineer pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,800 | $37.88 | $60,546 | $5,045 |
| 25th percentile | $100,030 | $48.09 | $74,420 | $6,202 |
| Median (50th) | $128,610 | $61.83 | $92,960 | $7,747 |
| 75th percentile | $161,770 | $77.77 | $113,967 | $9,497 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $176,470 | $84.84 | $123,280 | $10,273 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $128,610 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median electrical engineer's $92,960 take-home pay has the buying power of $85,863 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Electrical Engineer jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.17).
Best-paying cities for electrical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #8 of 18 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | $145,360 | $110,620 | $112,801 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $187,060 | $123,681 | $112,007 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $131,070 | $100,852 | $102,254 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $140,210 | $107,100 | $96,371 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $166,030 | $111,378 | $96,337 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $124,390 | $96,287 | $93,400 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $127,730 | $94,648 | $92,291 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $128,610 | $92,960 | $85,863 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 18 metros →
About the job: electrical engineers
Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +9.9% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrical engineer make in Boston, MA?
The median electrical engineer salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $128,610 a year, or about $61.83 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $100,030 and $161,770.
What is a electrical engineer’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $128,610 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $92,960 a year ($7,747 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,211 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a electrical engineer?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $120,630. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $85,863 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #8 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a electrical engineer afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median electrical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $167,600
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $142,920
- Engineers, All Other — $133,940
- Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer — $128,550
- Mechanical Engineer — $119,300
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $119,120
- Industrial Engineer — $118,970
- Civil Engineer — $107,670
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $78,190