25th pctl
$124K
Systems Engineering Salary in Boston
What you should make. What you should ask for. Calculated from 1M+ data points, refreshed monthly.
Median (p50)
$149K
75th pctl
$176K
90th pctl
$199K
Adjusted for Boston at 1.12× the national baseline. See the math →
What this number means.
Systems Engineering in Boston pulls a median of $149,408 at mid-IC, with a top-quartile band reaching $175,840 and the 90th percentile at $198,688. The Boston adjustment moves the band 12% above the national baseline. If you're up for review, the right ask sits at p75: $175,840.
How to negotiate this
- Anchor$175,840 — the top-quartile number. This is the number you say first.
- Target$162,624 — where a fair counter lands. Above the median, below the anchor.
- Floor$149,408 — below this, you're underpaid. Walking away gets cheaper than staying.
Carry the math. Not the maybe.
AMMO is the corner man for the conversation that decides your year. Real comp data, an offer grader, and counter language drafted from your numbers. Get on the list before iOS launch.
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Systems Engineering elsewhere
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