SOC 15-1221 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Computer and Information Research Scientists — Boston
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
The median wage for Computer and Information Research Scientists in Boston, MA is $170,510 per year, 21.5% above the national median of $140,300.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Computer and Information Research Scientists in Boston, MA is $170,510 per year, 21.5% above the national median of $140,300. Pay ranges from under $77,160 at the tenth percentile to more than $249,910 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $119,920 to $216,180.
Employment stands at 1,620, or 0.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 33rd of 687 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $77,160 | −45.0% |
| 25th | $119,920 | −14.5% |
| Median (50th) | $170,510 | +21.5% |
| 75th | $216,180 | +54.1% |
| 90th | $249,910 | +78.1% |
| Mean | $171,100 | +22.0% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Boston run 5.8% above the national average, so the median of $170,510 buys what $161,163 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 14.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$170,510as reported by BLSLocal price level
105.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$161,163US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $170,510 a year, 21.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $77,160 to $249,910 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,620 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Computer and Information Research Scientists in Boston, MA?
The median annual wage is $170,510, or $81.97 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $140,300, so pay in Boston, MA is 21.5% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Boston, MA earns more than $249,910 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $77,160 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,620 jobs in this occupation in Boston, MA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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