Average and median wage in Massachusetts
Half of the 3,637,650 workers in Massachusetts earn less than $63,590 a year, the median wage, while the average pay is $85,610, or $41.16 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% make $36,330 or less and the top 10% $163,010 or more. The average is 23% more than the U.S. average ($69,770) and the median 25% more than the U.S. median ($50,980).
- $36K10th
- $45K25th
- $64KMedian
- $103K75th
- $163K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Massachusetts per year | Per hour* | U.S. per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $85,610 | $41.16 | $69,770 |
| Median | $63,590 | $30.57 | $50,980 |
| 10th percentile | $36,330 | $17.47 | $31,200 |
| 25th percentile | $44,730 | $21.50 | $37,590 |
| 75th percentile | $102,580 | $49.32 | $80,520 |
| 90th percentile | $163,010 | $78.37 | $128,560 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Statewide figures include every employer in the state, metro and rural. Median vs. average salary · reading percentiles.
Average salary by city in Massachusetts
- Boston$89,620
- Worcester$73,600
- Amherst$70,730
- Barnstable$69,930
- Pittsfield$69,090
- Springfield$67,710
Map of Massachusetts metro areas
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Salary, take-home pay and cost of living by city
| City | Average | Median | Take-home* | Cost of living | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $89,620 | $66,620 | $67,716 | 108 | $741,868 |
| Worcester | $73,600 | $57,830 | $57,248 | 103 | $482,611 |
| Amherst | $70,730 | $57,030 | $55,372 | 100 | $363,400 |
| Barnstable | $69,930 | $56,360 | $54,849 | 98 | $764,671 |
| Pittsfield | $69,090 | $51,860 | $54,300 | 95 | $391,817 |
| Springfield | $67,710 | $51,930 | $53,393 | 96 | $376,017 |
*Average salary after federal and state income tax and payroll taxes for a single filer. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Highest-paying jobs in Massachusetts
- Surgeons, All Other · Pittsfield$433,250
- Radiologists · Barnstable$431,390
- Surgeons, All Other · Worcester$401,680
- Radiologists · Boston$400,990
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric · Boston$368,470
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric · Worcester$368,390
- Emergency Medicine Physicians · Boston$367,120
- Emergency Medicine Physicians · Worcester$335,780
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons · Boston$335,710
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric · Worcester$318,960
Most common jobs in Massachusetts
| Job | Jobs statewide | Average | Median | Highest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 117,940 | $42,080 | $40,910 | $42,620 |
| General and Operations Managers | 95,880 | $155,020 | $127,220 | $163,800 |
| Registered Nurses | 88,200 | $117,960 | $104,550 | $121,820 |
| Retail Salespersons | 86,860 | $39,970 | $36,610 | $41,020 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 85,810 | $35,880 | $35,850 | $36,640 |
| Cashiers | 58,880 | $36,860 | $35,520 | $37,420 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 55,490 | $45,250 | $45,580 | $46,320 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 54,670 | $44,480 | $38,460 | $45,760 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 49,990 | $52,750 | $49,120 | $53,740 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 49,760 | $40,250 | $37,540 | $41,090 |
Jobs, average and median: BLS statewide estimates. Highest city average: best-paid metro area we cover in the state.
Average salary by job family in Massachusetts
Massachusetts income tax and take-home pay
Take-home figures on these pages apply Massachusetts's 2026 income tax rules for a single filer with the standard deduction, plus federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security and Medicare. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Massachusetts at a glance
Average salary in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Salary in Massachusetts: questions
What is the average salary in Massachusetts?
$85,610 a year across all jobs, according to BLS statewide estimates (OEWS, May 2025). That is 23% more than the U.S. average ($69,770).
What is the median salary in Massachusetts?
$63,590 a year: half of Massachusetts workers earn more and half earn less. The median is lower than the average because a minority of high earners lifts the average.
What is the average hourly wage in Massachusetts?
$41.16 an hour on average, and $30.57 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
Which city in Massachusetts pays the most?
Boston, with an average of $89,620 a year among the metro areas we cover.
Is Massachusetts expensive to live in?
BEA puts Massachusetts prices 6% above the U.S. average (price parity 105.8). Within the state, Boston 108, Worcester 103, Amherst 100 are the most expensive metros.
Sources and how to read this page
- Statewide figures: BLS OEWS state estimates, May 2025, all occupations and every employer in the state (metro and rural areas).
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. City figures: the metro areas we cover in Massachusetts.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Population and median household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2023.
- Crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent and property crimes reported by agencies statewide, latest 12 months available.
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