Chemical Engineer Salary in Boston, MA
Chemical Engineers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $109,460 a year — 12% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $80,582 take-home, or $6,715 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chemical engineer salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$15,251
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,787
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,587
- Massachusetts income tax$5,253
- Take-home pay$80,582
Marginal rate: 22% 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.
Chemical Engineer pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,810 | $32.60 | $53,364 | $4,447 |
| 25th percentile | $79,110 | $38.03 | $60,748 | $5,062 |
| Median (50th) | $109,460 | $52.63 | $80,582 | $6,715 |
| 75th percentile | $144,030 | $69.25 | $102,729 | $8,561 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $176,120 | $84.67 | $123,058 | $10,255 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $109,460 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 chemical engineer's $80,582 take-home pay has the buying power of $74,430 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Boston, MA has 2.5× the national concentration of chemical engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for chemical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #5 of 5 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $138,120 | $105,671 | $107,140 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $127,770 | $94,674 | $92,316 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $132,820 | $93,727 | $86,080 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $126,830 | $91,512 | $81,298 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $109,460 | $80,582 | $74,430 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 5 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical engineer make in Boston, MA?
The median chemical engineer salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $109,460 a year, or about $52.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $79,110 and $144,030.
What is a chemical engineer’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $109,460 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $80,582 a year ($6,715 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,253 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a chemical engineer?
Pay here is 12% below the national median of $125,040. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $74,430 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #5 of 5 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chemical 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) — 34% of a median chemical 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
- Aerospace Engineer — $149,470
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $142,920
- Engineers, All Other — $133,940
- Electrical Engineer — $128,610
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors — $128,600
- Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer — $128,550
- Mechanical Engineer — $119,300
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $119,120
- Industrial Engineer — $118,970
- Materials Engineer — $111,480
- Environmental Engineer — $109,620