How Much Does a Chief Engineer Make in Boston, MA ? (2026 Salary Guide)

Chief Engineer Salary in Boston, MA

As of April 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Chief Engineer in Boston, MA is $330,349, equivalent to $159 per hour, $6,353 weekly, or $27,529 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Chief Engineer in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Chief Engineer in Boston, MA vary widely, spanning from $272,213 to $369,455. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($299,918) and 75th percentile ($350,819), while top earners (90th percentile) make $369,455 per year. This $50,901 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Leadership or Housekeeping, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, Boston Chief Engineer often earn 2.5% higher than national averages. However, Boston currently ranks 62 statewide for Chief Engineer job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Develop a Job description
Pay Equity
Salary Grading Scale
Pay Strategy
2025 Compensation Trend
Compensation Consulting
Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits
Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
View as table View as graph
Chief Engineer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $272,213 Boston, MA April 01, 2026
25th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $299,918 Boston, MA April 01, 2026
50th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $330,349 Boston, MA April 01, 2026
75th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $350,819 Boston, MA April 01, 2026
90th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $369,455 Boston, MA April 01, 2026
25% $299,918 10% $272,213 90% $369,455 75% $350,819 $330,349 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
Employers: Find Surveys For This Job Employers: Price Your Company Jobs Employees: View your Salary
Change Search Criteria
Check out Chief Engineer jobs in Boston, Massachusetts
Apply Now
Apply Now
Apply Now
Apply Now
Search More Chief Engineer Jobs in Boston, Massachusetts
See it in Action

What is a Chief Engineer ?

A chief engineer, commonly referred to as "ChEng" or "Chief", is the seniormost engine officer of an engine department on a ship, typically a merchant ship, and holds overall leadership and responsibility of that department. As a person who holds one of the most senior roles on the ship, he or she must have excellent communication and leadership skills. He or she will be expected to regularly work alongside other crew members and external consultants, and most importantly, provide guidance his or her team. To be a chief engineer, an engineer must attain a chief engineer's license appropriate ...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/17/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

See user submitted job responsibilities for Chief Engineer.

Search Chief Engineer Job Openings

Job Openings for Chief Engineer in Boston, MA

Career Path for this job

  1. Down a level:

    VP of Engineering


    Bachelor's Degree

  2. This Job:

    Chief Engineer


    Bachelor's Degree

  3. Up a level:

    Chief Engineering Officer


    Master's Degree or MBA

Not the job you're looking for? Search more salaries here:

Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Chief Engineer, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
299918
350819
330349

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
389134
541626
455118
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Chief Engineer in Boston, MA. The base salary for Chief Engineer ranges from $299,918 to $350,819 with the average base salary of $330,349. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $389,134 to $541,626 with the average total cash compensation of $455,118.

Discover how your pay is adjusted for skills, experience, and other factors

How much should you be paid?

For a real-time salary target, tell us more about your role in the four categories below.

299918
350819

 

About Boston, Massachusetts    Boston has an area of 89.63 square miles (232.1 km2)—48.4 square miles (125.4 km2) (54%) of land and 41.2 square miles (106.7 km2) (46%) of water. The....More

Boston, Massachusetts  area prices were up 2.5% from a year ago

Chief Engineer Salary in popular cities: Worcester, Springfield, Lowell

Recently searched related titles: Vice President Engineering, Vp Engineering, Senior Vice President Engineering

Learn more about: Compensation Packages, Employee Flight Risk, Gender Pay Gap, Job Openings for This Role

Jobs with a similar salary range to Chief Engineer : Chief Engineer Officer