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United States · 3 open in Boston · updated 2026-10-20

SDET salary in Boston, United States

A mid-level SDET in Boston earns a median of $140k a year gross ($140k), from $120k at p10 to $170k at p90. Boston pays 1.08× the United States median and 8% above the US median of $130k. About 654,000 people live in Boston.

Estimate · gross / year
$140kmedian · mid-level · $140k
p10 $120kp90 $170k
Rank 5 of 62City factor 1.08×
Pay by level

SDET pay by level in Boston

Gross annual pay in USD. Junior $110k, lead $220k. The bar spans p10 to p90 with the median marked.

Levelp10Medianp90RangeMedian (USD)
Junior$89k$110k$130k$110k
Mid-level$120k$140k$170k$140k
Senior$150k$180k$220k$180k
Lead$180k$220k$260k$220k

Estimates from posted pay ranges, base pay only: the United States median ($130k) times a 1.08 city factor. Methodology.

Take-home

From gross to take-home in Boston

Employers in United States usually quote annual base salary for employees, hourly rates for 1099 and W2 contracts.

$140kgross median / year
$100k–$110ktake-home / year (72-78%)
$12kgross / month
$67gross / hour, 40 h week

A generic estimate for a single mid-level earner, not tax advice.

Other cities

SDET pay in other United States cities

United States overview
CityPay factorp10Medianp90
San Francisco1.22×$130k$160k$190k
San Jose1.20×$130k$160k$190k
New York1.15×$120k$150k$180k
Seattle1.15×$120k$150k$180k
Washington DC1.06×$110k$140k$170k
Los Angeles1.05×$110k$140k$170k
San Diego1.03×$110k$130k$160k
Austin1.02×$110k$130k$160k
FAQ

SDET salary in Boston: FAQ

What is the average SDET salary in Boston?

The median gross salary for a mid-level SDET in Boston is $140k a year ($140k). The p10 is $120k and the p90 is $170k. This is an estimate from posted pay ranges, scaled to Boston with a city factor of 1.08.

How much does a senior SDET make in Boston?

A senior SDET in Boston earns a median of $180k, with a range of $150k to $220k. Leads reach $220k and juniors start near $110k.

What is an entry-level SDET salary in Boston?

A junior SDET in Boston earns about $110k a year ($110k), between $89k and $130k. Pay rises to $140k at mid-level.

Is Boston a good-paying city for SDETs in United States?

Boston ranks 5th of 62 tracked United States cities for this role, at 1.08x the national median of $130k. It sits in the top third.

What is the take-home pay for a SDET in Boston?

Roughly 72-78% of gross stays after income tax and social contributions for a single mid-level earner: about $100k to $110k a year, or $9,000 a month. This is not tax advice.

What is the hourly rate for a SDET in Boston?

A $140k gross salary equals about $67 an hour on a 40-hour week ($12k a month gross). Contractors typically quote 20-35% above this to cover leave and benefits.

All figures are gross estimates, not offers or advice.

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