Sociologists pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $190,440 or more. The middle half of sociologists in Boston earn between $83,920 and $145,360.
- $65K10th
- $84K25th
- $107KMedian
- $145K75th
- $190K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $123,880 | $10,323 | $59.56 |
| Median | $106,530 | $8,878 | $51.22 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $83,920 | $6,993 | $40.35 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $145,360 | $12,113 | $69.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Sociologists pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Sociologists in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($123,460) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($114,920). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $106,030.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $123,880 | $106,530 | $65,400 | $190,440 | 240 |
| Massachusetts | $123,460 | $106,530 | $65,400 | $190,440 | 250 |
| United States | $114,920 | $106,030 | $65,160 | $172,550 | 2,260 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Sociologists salary after taxes in Boston
On the average salary of $123,880, a single filer in Boston takes home about $90,064 a year, or $7,505 a month and $3,464 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $95,938 | $7,995 |
| Working in MA | $90,064 | $7,505 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for sociologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $123,880 buys what about $114,422 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Sociologists salary in nearby metro areas
- Washington, DC$105,420
- Durham, NC$129,900
- Columbus, OH$84,660
- Lansing, MI$81,650
- Riverside, CA$124,360
- Seattle, WA$101,990
Highest-paying cities for sociologists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($131,480).
- San Francisco, CA$131,480
- Durham, NC$129,900
- Los Angeles, CA$125,220
- Riverside, CA$124,360
- Boston, MA$123,880
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Sociologists salary in Boston: questions
How much do sociologists make an hour in Boston?
$59.56 an hour on average, and $51.22 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level sociologists salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $83,920, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the sociologists take-home pay in Boston?
About $90,064 a year ($7,505 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $123,880. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do sociologists earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% more than the U.S. average for this job ($114,920).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-3041; area Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 6.09, this job is 6.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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