Chemical Engineer salary in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Chemical Engineers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median of $109,460 a year ($52.63 an hour), based on BLS data for 910 workers.
Pay ranges from $67,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $176,120 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $125,040. Pay here is 7% lower than the Massachusetts statewide median of $118,000. There are 0.34 chemical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $117,840, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemical engineers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,810 | $32.60 |
| 25th percentile | $79,110 | $38.04 |
| Median | $109,460 | $52.63 |
| 75th percentile | $144,030 | $69.25 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $176,120 | $84.67 |
| Average (mean) | $117,840 | $56.66 |
Half of chemical engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,121.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,560.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,210 |
| Weekly | $2,105 |
| Hourly | $52.63 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $109,460 salary, see how much house you can afford in Massachusetts at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chemical Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield, MA | $110,770 | 40 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $106,950 | 80 |
| Worcester, MA | $104,060 | 260 |
Highest-paying states for chemical engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,190 |
| Virginia | $136,380 |
| Alabama | $135,030 |
| Louisiana | $134,800 |
| Delaware | $133,670 |
| Texas | $132,750 |
| West Virginia | $129,210 |
| New York | $129,060 |
| Washington | $128,290 |
| Oklahoma | $127,790 |
See Chemical Engineer pay in every state or the Massachusetts statewide figures.
Related jobs in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $118,970 | $57.20 |
| Civil Engineer | $107,670 | $51.77 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $119,300 | $57.36 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $142,920 | $68.71 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $128,550 | $61.80 |
| Electrical Engineer | $128,610 | $61.83 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $167,600 | $80.58 |
| Engineers, All Other | $133,940 | $64.40 |
| Environmental Engineer | $109,620 | $52.70 |
| Materials Engineer | $111,480 | $53.60 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $149,470 | $71.86 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $128,600 | $61.83 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $144,830 | $69.63 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $119,120 | $57.27 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical engineer make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median salary for chemical engineers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $109,460 a year, or $52.63 an hour. Pay ranges from $67,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $176,120 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical engineers make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The top 10% of chemical engineers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn at least $176,120 a year. The top 25% earn $144,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical engineers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $67,810 a year, and a quarter of chemical engineers earn $79,110 or less.
How many chemical engineers work in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
About 910 chemical engineers are employed in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, not counting the self-employed.