The salary range for a software engineer in Massachusetts runs from $102,810 at the 10th percentile to $213,970 at the 90th percentile. When building a compensation band, use the 25th percentile of $131,370 as a floor for entry-level roles and the 75th percentile of $190,280 as a reasonable ceiling for experienced hires before you move into senior specialist territory. Anchoring your offer to the specific seniority level you are hiring for will keep your budget accurate and your offer competitive.
Software engineer salary in Massachusetts (2026)
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The average software engineer salary in Massachusetts is $161,730 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $165,210 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Massachusetts employs 48,190 software engineers, and the $3,480 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior engineers in Massachusetts typically earn around $102,810, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $213,970 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a software engineer hire, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $165,210 |
Average Annual Salary | $161,730 |
vs. National Average | 9.2% above the national mean of $148,100 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 48,190 employed software engineers across Massachusetts.
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Software engineer salary percentiles in Massachusetts
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $102,810 |
25th Percentile | $131,370 |
75th Percentile | $190,280 |
90th Percentile | $213,970 |
Employers hiring mid-level software engineers in Massachusetts should expect to anchor offers between $131,370 and $190,280 to stay competitive across the bulk of the market. Senior specialists who reach the 90th percentile command $213,970, so roles requiring deep specialization or leadership will require a budget well above the median.
Software engineer salary by city in Massachusetts
City | Average Annual Salary |
Boston | $162,440 |
Worcester | $144,360 |
Barnstable | $140,860 |
Springfield | $133,220 |
Employers hiring outside Boston can realize meaningful savings on software engineer compensation without leaving Massachusetts. Boston averages $162,440 per year, while Springfield averages $133,220, a difference of nearly $29,000 annually for the same role. If your team can operate from a secondary market, that gap has a direct impact on your compensation budget.
How Massachusetts compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Massachusetts | $161,730 | $165,210 |
New York | $163,820 | $166,180 |
New Jersey | $143,800 | $135,940 |
Connecticut | $141,260 | $134,120 |
Rhode Island | $129,080 | $130,590 |
Pennsylvania | $128,110 | $126,550 |
Employers in Massachusetts should expect compensation expectations to be broadly similar to New York but noticeably higher than neighboring states like Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania. Massachusetts averages $161,730 versus New York's $163,820, a difference of under $2,100, so candidates moving between those two markets will carry comparable salary expectations. New Jersey at $143,800 and Connecticut at $141,260 offer lower average costs, which matters if your team has flexibility on location.
Frequently asked questions about software engineer salary in Massachusetts
What is the salary range for a software engineer in Massachusetts?
How does Massachusetts compare to other states for software engineer salary?
Massachusetts sits just below New York, which averages $163,820, and well above Connecticut at $141,260, Rhode Island at $129,080, and Pennsylvania at $128,110. The Massachusetts average of $161,730 is also 9.2% above the national mean of $148,100. If you are hiring remotely and considering candidates across the Northeast, expect Massachusetts-based candidates to carry salary expectations near the top of the regional range.
What do the top-earning software engineers make in Massachusetts?
Software engineers at the 90th percentile in Massachusetts earn $213,970 per year. Roles that reach this level typically involve deep technical specialization, architecture ownership, or staff-level scope. Budget at or above this figure if you are competing for senior talent with those qualifications.
What is the average software engineer salary in Massachusetts?
The average software engineer salary in Massachusetts is $161,730 per year, which sits 9.2% above the national mean of $148,100. The median of $165,210 is slightly higher than the mean, which tells you the distribution is fairly balanced across the 48,190 engineers employed in the state. Use the median as your primary anchor when setting a midpoint for a compensation band, and adjust up or down based on the seniority of the role you are filling.
Software engineer salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 15-1252 (Software Developers).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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