Pay data
Average Salary in Massachusetts (2026)
The average salary in Massachusetts is $85,610 a year and the median is $63,590, 25% above the US median (BLS, May 2025). At national-average prices that median is worth $60,130: 2nd of the 50 states and DC by median wage, 2nd once local prices are taken into account.
- Average (mean) salary
- $85,610US $69,770
- Median salary
- $63,590US $50,980
- Median hourly wage
- $30.57BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Price level
- 105.8US = 100 · BEA 2024
Calculator
Where does your salary rank in Massachusetts?
About the 57th percentile
You earn more than about 57% of workers in Massachusetts.
At Massachusetts prices, $75,000 buys what $70,920 buys at the national average, about the 67th percentile nationally.
Interpolated between the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentile wages BLS publishes for all occupations (OEWS, May 2025). Wage and salary workers only; excludes the self-employed. Price comparison uses BEA Regional Price Parities.
The spread
What Massachusetts workers earn
| Percentile | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,330 | $31,200 |
| 25th | $44,730 | $37,590 |
| 50th (median) | $63,590 | $50,980 |
| 75th | $102,580 | $80,520 |
| 90th | $163,010 | $128,560 |
| Mean | $85,610 | $69,770 |
Prices
Cost of living in Massachusetts
BEA Regional Price Parities compare price levels across states (US = 100). Massachusetts sits at 105.8 overall, with housing at 128.1. To live the way $100,000 pays for at national-average prices, you would need about $105,760 here. Compare any two states or metros.
US = 100
- All items6% above US105.8
- Housing (rents)28% above US128.1
- Goods1% below US98.8
- Utilities52% above US152.1
- Other services3% above US102.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| All items | 105.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 128.1 |
| Goods | 98.8 |
| Utilities | 152.1 |
| Other services | 102.9 |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
By field
Average salary in Massachusetts by occupation group
| Occupation group | Median | vs US | Workers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management | $159,360 | +26% | 327,160 |
| Legal | $132,990 | +30% | 35,100 |
| Computer and Mathematical | $130,620 | +20% | 153,860 |
| Architecture and Engineering | $106,360 | +7% | 79,140 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science | $104,050 | +26% | 78,090 |
| Business and Financial Operations | $101,200 | +22% | 299,160 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical | $100,240 | +16% | 250,740 |
| Educational Instruction and Library | $77,550 | +28% | 253,260 |
| Construction and Extraction | $77,480 | +30% | 132,960 |
| Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media | $76,420 | +22% | 49,130 |
| Protective Service | $65,550 | +31% | 82,890 |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair | $65,260 | +9% | 107,060 |
| Community and Social Service | $63,260 | +9% | 80,530 |
| Office and Administrative Support | $54,990 | +16% | 360,720 |
| Production | $48,990 | +4% | 139,820 |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance | $46,610 | +24% | 104,310 |
| Transportation and Material Moving | $45,930 | +4% | 233,740 |
| Sales | $45,260 | +17% | 289,700 |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry | $43,720 | +19% | 2,570 |
| Healthcare Support | $43,090 | +12% | 200,430 |
| Personal Care and Service | $42,670 | +17% | 84,310 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related | $37,300 | +6% | 292,980 |
The jobs
The jobs behind Massachusetts's pay
The most common jobs set the median; the best-paid set the top; the most over-represented jobs show what the state's economy specialises in (location quotient: the state's share of jobs in an occupation over the national share).
Most common jobs
By employment
- 1General and Operations Manager95,880
- 2Registered Nurse88,200
- 3Retail Salesperson86,860
- 4Fast Food and Counter Worker85,810
- 5Cashier58,880
- 6Janitor and Cleaner, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners55,490
- 7Server54,670
- 8Customer Service Representative49,990
- 9Stocker and Order Filler49,760
- 10Software Developer48,190
Highest-paying jobs
Median, 500+ workers
- 1Emergency Medicine Physician$356,230
- 2Nurse Anesthetist$295,550
- 3General Internal Medicine Physician$285,250
- 4Family Medicine Physician$277,490
- 5Obstetrician and Gynecologist$272,240
- 6Natural Sciences Manager$267,290
- 7Allergist and Immunologist$236,580
- 8Judge$221,710
- 9Pediatrician, General$221,170
- 10IT Manager$214,960
Most over-represented
Location quotient, 1,000+ workers
- 1Biochemist and Biophysicist18.8x
- 2Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer8.6x
- 3Biological Technician5.2x
- 4Microbiologist4.4x
- 5Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists4.2x
- 6Natural Sciences Manager4.2x
- 7Statistician3.6x
- 8Chemical Engineer3.0x
- 9Engineering Teacher, Postsecondary2.8x
- 10Psychology Teacher, Postsecondary2.7x
Cities
Average salary by city in Massachusetts
| Metro area | Median | Mean | Price level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA-NH | $66,620 | $89,620 | 108.3 |
| Worcester, MA | $57,830 | $73,600 | 102.5 |
| Amherst Town, MA | $57,030 | $70,730 | 100.2 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $56,360 | $69,930 | 98.4 |
| Springfield, MA | $51,930 | $67,710 | 96.1 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $51,860 | $69,090 | 95.1 |
Compare
States with similar pay
Method
About these numbers
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all occupations in Massachusetts. Wage and salary workers only; excludes the self-employed.
- Wages are straight-time pay before tax, including commissions and tips, excluding overtime premiums, bonuses and benefits.
- Price levels are BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. Price-adjusted pay is a NueCareer calculation (wage ÷ RPP/100).
Questions
Average salary in Massachusetts: FAQ
What is the average salary in Massachusetts?
The average (mean) annual wage in Massachusetts is $85,610 and the median is $63,590, 25% above the US median of $50,980 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That covers 3,637,650 wage and salary workers in all occupations.
What is the average hourly wage in Massachusetts?
$41.16 an hour on average and $30.57 at the median (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What is a good salary in Massachusetts?
Above $63,590 out-earns half of Massachusetts workers; the top 25% start at $102,580 and the top 10% at $163,010 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Prices in Massachusetts run 6% above the national average (BEA, 2024), so $100,000 here buys about what $94,560 buys nationally.
Is Massachusetts expensive to live in?
BEA puts overall prices in Massachusetts at 105.8 against a US average of 100 (2024). Housing is 128.1, goods 98.8, utilities 152.1 and other services 102.9. To match a $100,000 national-average lifestyle you would need about $105,760 here.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Massachusetts?
Emergency Medicine Physician ($356,230), Nurse Anesthetist ($295,550), General Internal Medicine Physician ($285,250), Family Medicine Physician ($277,490), Obstetrician and Gynecologist ($272,240) have the highest median wages among occupations with at least 500 workers in Massachusetts (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What are the most common jobs in Massachusetts?
General and Operations Manager (95,880), Registered Nurse (88,200), Retail Salesperson (86,860), Fast Food and Counter Worker (85,810), Cashier (58,880) employ the most people (BLS OEWS, May 2025).