Massachusetts (MA)
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An automated macro-level review of Massachusetts's tech ecosystem.Massachusetts Market Grade
Companies in Massachusetts filed 2,833 work visa applications. Based on the local job market and salaries, this state earns an H1B Index Grade of "A".
Consistent Job Creation
Local employers maintain a highly stable hiring approach. The state's visa volume evenly splits between brand-new hires (57.0%) and transferring talent (43.0%).
Real Cost of Living
A baseline salary of $127,324 is a strong starting point, but living here has distinct costs. After paying the 5.0% state tax and local living expenses, true spending power is closer to $120,958.
Confirmed Approvals
The data shows a very safe hiring environment. Employers in Massachusetts secure a 99.3% success rate on work visas and currently sponsor 653 professionals for permanent residency.
Focus on Senior Talent
The corporate ecosystem here leans distinctly toward advanced skill sets. A substantial 38.4% of all visa applications secure top-tier, fully competent professional workers.
Local Economy Focus
Boston is the top location for international talent in Massachusetts. The data also shows that the Professional, Scientific, and Tech Services industry is the biggest job provider statewide.
Layoff Radar & Risk Indicators
Top Metro Hubs in Massachusetts
Hiring volume across major cities mapped against the state baseline compensation rate of $127,324.Talent Sourcing Pipeline
Are companies hiring fresh talent or poaching from competitors?State Wage Premium
On average, employers in Massachusetts offer salaries that are $13,860 higher than the baseline prevailing wage required by the Department of Labor.
10-Year Salary Trends
Comparing state-level base compensation growth for temporary H-1B visas versus permanent Green Cards (PERM).Top Hiring Employers
Companies sponsoring the most visas in this state.Top Emerging Startup in Massachusetts
There is currently 1 verified new startup sponsoring international talent across Massachusetts.
O*NET Wage Level Distribution
Experience requirements matched against pay tiers across the state.| Experience Level | Total Filings | Cohort Size | Minimum Base | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (Level I) | 614 | 21.7% | $37,000 | $78,333 |
| Qualified (Level II) | 919 | 32.4% | $41,870 | $114,088 |
| Experienced (Level III) | 570 | 20.1% | $55,120 | $149,319 |
| Fully Competent (Level IV) | 517 | 18.2% | $50,378 | $178,131 |
| Not Disclosed (Blank) | 213 | 7.5% | $59,223 | $133,545 |
Geographic Deployment & Worksites
The top locations where state employers place their workers.| City/Metro Area | Workforce % | City Median Pay | Wage (Level IV) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | 33.3% (944 Filings) | $130,000 | 15.8% |
| Cambridge, MA | 12.8% (362 Filings) | $129,900 | 22.4% |
| Waltham, MA | 4.1% (117 Filings) | $131,621 | 20.5% |
| Natick, MA | 3.1% (88 Filings) | $154,606 | 29.5% |
| Quincy, MA | 2.3% (65 Filings) | $131,082 | 13.8% |
| Worcester, MA | 1.9% (54 Filings) | $72,538 | 3.7% |
| Marlborough, MA | 1.8% (51 Filings) | $148,000 | 17.6% |
| Burlington, MA | 1.7% (47 Filings) | $146,806 | 23.4% |
| Framingham, MA | 1.7% (47 Filings) | $125,000 | 21.3% |
| Andover, MA | 1.2% (33 Filings) | $130,735 | 33.3% |
| Lowell, MA | 1.1% (31 Filings) | $140,525 | 25.8% |
| Somerville, MA | 1.1% (31 Filings) | $90,500 | 6.5% |
| Westborough, MA | 1.1% (31 Filings) | $116,397 | 19.4% |
| Woburn, MA | 1.1% (30 Filings) | $139,038 | 13.3% |
| Wilmington, MA | 0.9% (26 Filings) | $129,315 | 19.2% |
| Belmont, MA | 0.9% (25 Filings) | $99,840 | 16.0% |
| Charlestown, MA | 0.9% (25 Filings) | $77,267 | 20.0% |
| Westford, MA | 0.8% (24 Filings) | $138,784 | 12.5% |
| Hopkinton, MA | 0.8% (23 Filings) | $151,940 | 34.8% |
| North Reading, MA | 0.8% (22 Filings) | $149,400 | 13.6% |
| Hingham, MA | 0.8% (22 Filings) | $50,000 | 0.0% |
| Malden, MA | 0.7% (21 Filings) | $115,000 | 9.5% |
| Bedford, MA | 0.7% (21 Filings) | $131,100 | 23.8% |
| Newton, MA | 0.7% (21 Filings) | $131,082 | 28.6% |
| North Quincy, MA | 0.7% (20 Filings) | $106,434 | 0.0% |
| Acton, MA | 0.7% (19 Filings) | $133,943 | 15.8% |
| Needham, MA | 0.7% (19 Filings) | $115,627 | 15.8% |
| Lexington, MA | 0.7% (19 Filings) | $159,672 | 15.8% |
| Shrewsbury, MA | 0.7% (19 Filings) | $125,638 | 36.8% |
| Boxborough, MA | 0.6% (17 Filings) | $148,119 | 23.5% |
| Medford, MA | 0.5% (15 Filings) | $150,000 | 33.3% |
| Southborough, MA | 0.5% (14 Filings) | $74,672 | 14.3% |
| Springfield, MA | 0.5% (14 Filings) | $124,800 | 35.7% |
| Norwood, MA | 0.5% (14 Filings) | $119,544 | 28.6% |
| Milford, MA | 0.5% (13 Filings) | $116,397 | 7.7% |
| Brighton, MA | 0.5% (13 Filings) | $132,839 | 15.4% |
| Billerica, MA | 0.4% (12 Filings) | $121,454 | 0.0% |
| Brookline, MA | 0.4% (12 Filings) | $145,000 | 25.0% |
| Wakefield, MA | 0.4% (12 Filings) | $111,619 | 0.0% |
| Wellesley, MA | 0.4% (12 Filings) | $145,000 | 50.0% |
| Rutland, MA | 0.4% (12 Filings) | $55,182 | 0.0% |
| Westwood, MA | 0.4% (12 Filings) | $118,320 | 0.0% |
| Everett, MA | 0.4% (12 Filings) | $91,962 | 8.3% |
| Littleton, MA | 0.4% (11 Filings) | $115,000 | 36.4% |
| Beverly, MA | 0.4% (11 Filings) | $150,000 | 9.1% |
| Danvers, MA | 0.4% (11 Filings) | $118,435 | 9.1% |
| Chelsea, MA | 0.4% (10 Filings) | $105,482 | 10.0% |
| Chelmsford, MA | 0.4% (10 Filings) | $143,000 | 20.0% |
| Walpole, MA | 0.3% (9 Filings) | $49,275 | 22.2% |
| Amherst, MA | 0.3% (8 Filings) | $95,312 | 0.0% |
Most Poached Roles
Roles with the highest volume of H-1B transfers, indicating aggressive headhunting.Dominant Industries
Distribution of cases by broad industry sector.Historical Retention Rate
Year-over-year percentage of successful visa renewals and extensions.Top Third-Party End Clients i
Where consultants are deployed.Highest Compensation Roles i
Top positions ranked by median base pay.Law Firms & Third-Party Work i
Leading legal counsel for visas.
Visa Volume & Success
-87.5% YoY Decline
LCA approvals, denials, and overall certification rates.
USCIS Petition Processing
New vs. Renewed approvals and denials in the state.Green Card Sponsorships
PERM residency applications and median GC wages.Noticing a difference in dates? Salary metrics reflect real-time DOL filings, while approval metrics rely on finalized USCIS historical data. View timelines
Complete Employers Matrix
A detailed ledger of all corporate clients operating in Massachusetts.Complete Jobs Matrix
The job titles most frequently sponsored in this state.| Job Title in State | LCA Count | Median Pay | Salary Variance | Legal Wage Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Fellow | 105 | $76,000 | $32,800 Range | +$13,350 Over Min |
| Senior Software Engineer | 69 | $154,606 | $116,499 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Software Engineer | 53 | $135,000 | $139,920 Range | +$3,918 Over Min |
| Postdoctoral Associate | 49 | $71,000 | $33,120 Range | +$12,136 Over Min |
| Research Scientist | 44 | $81,082 | $57,578 Range | +$9,676 Over Min |
| Software Developer | 43 | $131,082 | $109,812 Range | +$8,112 Over Min |
| Assistant Professor | 34 | $141,900 | $242,300 Range | +$72,215 Over Min |
| Investigator | 32 | $81,749 | $56,285 Range | +$10,343 Over Min |
| Principal Software Engineer | 20 | $178,131 | $35,394 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Postdoctoral Fellow | 17 | $70,304 | $21,391 Range | +$8,923 Over Min |
| Research Associate | 16 | $86,834 | $57,800 Range | +$18,350 Over Min |
| Hospitalist | 15 | $293,467 | $127,730 Range | +$86,403 Over Min |
| Lead Software Engineer | 13 | $160,000 | $55,161 Range | +$5,394 Over Min |
| Data Engineer | 13 | $109,990 | $75,101 Range | +$2,433 Over Min |
| Software Engineering | 12 | $193,466 | $103,801 Range | +$38,860 Over Min |
| Project Manager | 11 | $97,739 | $75,018 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Software Development Engineer Ii | 11 | $143,700 | $63,318 Range | +$12,618 Over Min |
| Software Engineer Ii | 11 | $153,284 | $58,574 Range | +$22,202 Over Min |
| Data Scientist | 11 | $114,100 | $55,682 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Business Analyst | 10 | $114,088 | $42,078 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Scientist | 10 | $107,535 | $74,205 Range | +$18,636 Over Min |
| Principal Quality Engineer | 9 | $140,525 | $38,245 Range | +$5,928 Over Min |
| Web Software Developer | 9 | $95,680 | $27,290 Range | +$1,186 Over Min |
| Quality Engineer | 9 | $88,338 | $43,680 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Manager | 9 | $178,131 | $117,119 Range | +$23,545 Over Min |
| Postdoctoral Research Fellow | 9 | $70,040 | $42,619 Range | +$8,659 Over Min |
| Senior Quality Engineer | 9 | $119,912 | $18,412 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Senior Research Associate | 8 | $80,330 | $25,000 Range | +$6,178 Over Min |
| Director | 8 | $175,550 | $75,102 Range | +$44,468 Over Min |
| Senior Consultant | 8 | $144,235 | $100,743 Range | +$23,782 Over Min |
| Software Engineer Iii | 8 | $183,177 | $62,008 Range | +$28,571 Over Min |
| General Dentist | 8 | $148,751 | $200,138 Range | +$1,009 Over Min |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | 8 | $48,838 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Consultant | 7 | $118,726 | $36,700 Range | +$2,371 Over Min |
| Computer Programmer | 7 | $102,500 | $50,550 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Clinician | 7 | $63,107 | $20,666 Range | +$1,373 Over Min |
| Spanish Immersion Teacher | 7 | $43,000 | $8,000 Range | +$5,456 Over Min |
| Software Development Engineer I | 6 | $112,653 | $21,443 Range | +$5,096 Over Min |
| Validation Engineer | 6 | $101,254 | $31,533 Range | +$1,737 Over Min |
| Senior Software Engineer I | 6 | $157,600 | $20,755 Range | +$26,518 Over Min |
Historical Compensation Ledger
Year-over-year salary data comparing historical averages.| Fiscal Year | YoY Growth | Maximum | Median | Top-Heavy Skew i | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | In Progress | $375,178 | $124,800 | Balanced | $23.00/hr |
| 2025 | +3.8% | $400,000 | $117,244 | Balanced | $17.00/hr |
| 2024 | +4.4% | $400,000 | $112,986 | Balanced | $15.00/hr |
| 2023 | +2.6% | $400,000 | $108,200 | Balanced | $14.00/hr |
| 2022 | +5.4% | $400,000 | $105,414 | Balanced | $14.00/hr |
| 2021 | +5.3% | $385,000 | $100,000 | Balanced | $13.00/hr |
| 2020 | +6.6% | $400,000 | $95,000 | Balanced | $14.00/hr |
| 2019 | +1.4% | $400,000 | $89,114 | Balanced | $14.00/hr |
| 2018 | +9.8% | $400,000 | $87,859 | Balanced | $13.00/hr |
| 2017 | +5.4% | $400,000 | $80,000 | Balanced | $10.00/hr |
| 2016 | N/A | $400,000 | $75,878 | +5.4% Skew | $12.00/hr |
Recent Visa Filings (FY 2026)
Raw, unedited federal disclosures processed in this state.State Intelligence (FAQ)
Common questions and insights regarding Massachusetts.What type of companies sponsor the most visas in Massachusetts?
The Professional, Scientific, and Tech Services sector represents the biggest sponsor, making up 36.5% of all local visa requests.
What is the tax rate on a professional salary in Massachusetts?
The state income tax is estimated at 5.0%. Earning the median salary of $127,324 means paying around $6,366 in local taxes.
How likely are companies in Massachusetts to sponsor a Green Card?
There is an active pathway to permanent residency here. Employers recently submitted 653 PERM applications, establishing a 23.0% Green Card rate.