salary$166,090 a year$80 an hour · median pay in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH area
Lower pay (bottom 10%)$102,950per year
Top pay (top 10%)$214,100per year
Jobs in the area42,310people work this job
Can a software developer afford Boston?
OK. Rent of $3,112 a month takes 22.5% of the median software developer salary. That is under the 30% rule, so one paycheck covers rent comfortably.
Software Developer pay in similar cities
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Boston, MA?
The median pay for a software developer in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH area is $166,090 a year ($80 an hour). Most earn between $102,950 and $214,100.
Can a software developer afford to live in Boston?
Typical rent of $3,112 a month takes 22.5% of the median software developer salary, which we rate OK.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area.