Polycrystalline samples of NbB 2+x with nominal composition (B/Nb) = 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5 were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The spectra revealed Nb and B oxides on the surface of the samples, mainly B 2 O 3 and Nb 2 O 5 . After Ar ion etching the intensity of Nb and B oxides decreased. The Nb 3d 5/2 and B 1s core levels associated with the chemical states (B/Nb) were identified and they do not change with etching time. The Binding Energy of the Nb 3d 5/2 and B 1s core levels increase as boron content increases, suggesting a positive chemical shift in the core levels. On the other hand, analysis of Valence Band spectra showed that the contribution of the Nb 4d states slightly decreased while the contribution of the B 2p π states increased as the boron content increased. As a consequence, the electronic and superconducting properties were substantially modified, in good agreement with band-structure calculations.