Design and optimize the processes that turn crude oil and natural gas into fuels, plastics, and chemicals — blending chemical and process engineering in the energy sector. Median salary in Cambridge: $153K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Petrochemical Engineers in Cambridge earn approximately 22% higher than the US national median for this role — a $28,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Cambridge's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.
Adjusted for Cambridge's cost-of-living index (185), the median Petrochemical Engineer salary buys the equivalent of $82,703 in a US-average-cost city. That's $42,297 less purchasing power than the national median — the higher nominal salary doesn't fully offset local costs.
Average 1-bedroom rent in Cambridge ($3,200/mo) consumes approximately 38% of an after-tax median Petrochemical Engineer salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($198K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $153K by 2030.
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The median Petrochemical Engineer salary in Cambridge, MA is $153,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Cambridge–MA metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level Petrochemical Engineers in Cambridge with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $116,000 and $153,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $153,000 to $198,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $198,000 to $251,000 or more.
Cambridge has a cost of living index of 185 compared to the US national average of 100. Cambridge's cost of living is above the US average, so the salary figures above reflect local market rates. Massachusetts has a 5% state income tax rate.
Bachelor's in Chemical or Petroleum Engineering. 15% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.