Salary Comparison

Software Engineer Salary:
Boston, MA vs Los Angeles, CA

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

Boston, MA
$189,085
/ year
+22%
difference
Los Angeles, CA
$155,458
/ year
Bottom line: Boston wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Boston
Los Angeles
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$189,085✓ higher
$155,458
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$122,280✓ higher
$100,534
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$292,387✓ higher
$240,388
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$126,399✓ higher
$104,538
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$135,061✓ higher
$112,651
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.40×
1.38×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$122,280✓ higher
$100,534
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$292,387✓ higher
$240,388

What if you move from Boston to Los Angeles?

Gross salary change
$33,627
22% decrease
Take-home change
$21,861
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$22,410
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00×). Full methodology →

Salary Range Comparison

Boston, MA$189,085
P10: $122,280Median: $189,085P90: $292,387
Los Angeles, CA$155,458
P10: $100,534Median: $155,458P90: $240,388

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Software Engineer earn more in Boston or Los Angeles?

The median Software Engineer salary in Boston, MA is $189,085/yr compared to $155,458/yr in Los Angeles, CA. Boston pays 22% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Software Engineer salary worth more in Boston or Los Angeles after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Boston salary has the purchasing power of $135,061/yr in a median-cost city, vs $112,651/yr for Los Angeles. Boston offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Software Engineer in Boston vs Los Angeles?

After estimated taxes, a Software Engineer in Boston, MA takes home approximately $126,399/yr, vs $104,538/yr in Los Angeles, CA. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.