Technology & IT · Boston, MA
All 11 tech occupations we track are more concentrated in Greater Boston than nationally, led by systems analysts and QA testers, yet security analysts here earn only about 6% above the U.S. median. As a national agency, Careerscape assigns Boston searches to recruiters who specialize in technology and work remotely.
Peer markets
Location quotient and median annual pay for five roles, from the same BLS May 2025 survey. Boston is rarely the most expensive of the four, but it is often among the deepest.
| Role | Boston | New York | San Francisco | Seattle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer systems analysts | 1.93 / $129,180 | 0.84 / $128,340 | 1.41 / $134,460 | 2.73 / $133,690 |
| QA analysts and testers | 1.86 / $122,210 | 1.00 / $130,540 | 2.06 / $134,630 | 2.65 / $129,690 |
| Computer network architects | 1.68 / $160,650 | 0.93 / $163,010 | 1.22 / $166,760 | 1.54 / $172,650 |
| Database administrators | 1.57 / $132,370 | 0.85 / $121,550 | 1.37 / $127,760 | 1.07 / $133,180 |
| Information security analysts | 1.57 / $136,550 | 0.97 / $140,470 | 1.28 / $162,310 | 1.84 / $161,780 |
Of the four metros, Boston has the highest concentration of network architects and database administrators, and the lowest median pay for security analysts. Each cell shows location quotient / median annual wage. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Reading the data
A deep pool shortens sourcing. Boston's 17,470 systems analysts and 6,050 QA testers are close to twice as concentrated as nationally, so a search for either starts with plenty of people already doing the job inside the metro. The harder part is usually getting an employed analyst to move.
Security is a pricing question. Boston's security analysts earn about $25,000 less at the median than their counterparts in Seattle and San Francisco. Employers in those markets hiring remotely can outbid a Boston salary band, so if your role is hybrid, make the in-office days count for something in the offer. Our cybersecurity analyst salary guide shows the national spread.
AI demand has reached Boston too. CBRE counts nearly 2.6 million square feet of AI company leasing in the Boston market since 2023. Those companies recruit from the same data science pool, 7,930 jobs at a $132,040 median.
For the wider Boston economy, including the life sciences reset and Massachusetts' pay-range and non-compete rules, see our Boston staffing guide.
How a search works
Careerscape has no Boston office. Here is how a search works when recruiters who specialize in technology run it from across the country.
We agree on the role, level, stack, in-office days and pay band, checked against the Boston medians above and our Salary Guide.
Recruiters approach people already doing the job in the Boston metro first, then widen to candidates open to relocating or to a hybrid schedule.
Candidates are interviewed by phone and video for skills, motivation and fit before you see a resume.
You receive a pre-screened shortlist in a private Employer Portal, where you request interviews, leave feedback and track the pipeline.
We help align the offer with the candidate's expectations through the start date. For contract or contract-to-hire roles, the worker stays on Careerscape's payroll.
Roles we fill
Our technology recruiting covers permanent, contract and leadership roles across Greater Boston.
Request talent
Describe the role and your timeline, and a technology recruiter will be in touch with next steps.
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FAQ
Computer and information systems managers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro earned a median of $214,960 in May 2025, 23% above the U.S. median of $175,140, according to BLS. The 75th percentile was $269,520. The metro has 20,530 of these managers, a location quotient of 1.76, so experienced IT leaders are relatively plentiful here even though they are expensive.
Less than in some peer markets. Boston's information security analysts earned a $136,550 median in May 2025, only 6% above the U.S. median. Seattle's earned $161,780 and San Francisco's $162,310. That gap means a remote employer elsewhere can outbid a Boston offer, so hybrid roles need a clear reason to come in.
Our searches cover the whole metro. Careerscape works as one national, remote team with no Boston office, and our technology recruiters recruit for roles anywhere in Greater Boston. The BLS figures on this page cover the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro, which also reaches into southern New Hampshire, so they apply to suburban roles as well as the city.
Computer systems analysts lead, with 17,470 jobs and a location quotient of 1.93, the third-highest concentration of the 29 markets we cover after Seattle and Albany. QA analysts and testers (1.86), IT managers (1.76), data scientists (1.74) and network architects (1.68) follow. Every tech occupation we track is above the national share in Boston.
Contract-to-hire is one of our standard services. With contract-to-hire, the worker starts on Careerscape's payroll for a trial period, and you can convert them to your own payroll once both sides are sure of the fit. It suits project-heavy roles such as systems analysts and QA engineers, and teams whose 2027 headcount is not yet approved.
Tell us about the role. We'll recruit from the metro's deepest pools and send a pre-screened shortlist.
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