Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
Boston, MA Average Salary 2026
Cost of living, occupation-by-occupation pay, and percentile ranges from official BLS data.
The average salary in Boston, MA, Massachusetts is $129,162 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (2025 reference period) covering 65 occupations and roughly 659,260 workers. Adjusted for Boston, MA's cost-of-living index of 152.1, that nominal average translates to $84,919 of purchasing power in an average-cost U.S. metro. The highest-paying tracked occupation is Family Medicine Physician at $284,010; the lowest is Automotive Technician at $63,060.
Boston, MA, MA is a high-cost-of-living city (index 152.1). BLS OEWS reports 65 occupations with median wages averaging $129,162. The headline wages need cost-of-living adjustment to compare meaningfully to lower-COL markets.
Highest-paying role in Boston, MA on BLS data is Family Medicine Physician at $284,010 median. Top-paying roles in any U.S. city skew toward physicians, executives, tech specialists, and licensed professionals; the specific ranking varies with the local industry mix. For workers evaluating Boston, MA as a destination, the gross-wage premium typical of high-cost cities partially offsets the cost-of-living differential. Whether the trade-off is favorable depends on individual factors (housing tenure, household size, education-cost obligations) more than on aggregate index numbers.
Salaries by Occupation in Boston, MA
| Role | Category | Median | Range (10th–90th) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physician | Healthcare | $284,010 | $107,650 – $374,630 | 2,950 |
| Obstetrician/Gynecologist | Healthcare | $235,460 | $96,960 – $435,010 | 500 |
| Pediatrician | Healthcare | $221,170 | $125,170 – $324,950 | 1,860 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $214,960 | $136,800 – $310,450 | 20,530 |
| Marketing Manager | Management | $213,910 | $131,130 – $312,910 | 11,940 |
| Financial Manager | Finance | $209,780 | $126,450 – $335,150 | 21,650 |
| Sales Manager | Management | $206,610 | $106,220 – $323,670 | 11,540 |
| Human Resources Manager | Management | $184,990 | $99,990 – $317,690 | 6,480 |
| Lawyer | Legal | $183,350 | $84,280 – $379,350 | 20,080 |
| Dentist | Healthcare | $181,150 | $95,550 – $370,580 | 1,920 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analyst | Technology | $170,510 | $77,160 – $249,910 | 1,620 |
| Software Developer | Technology | $166,090 | $102,950 – $214,100 | 42,310 |
| Computer Network Architect | Technology | $160,650 | $100,050 – $211,820 | 5,240 |
| Optometrist | Healthcare | $154,970 | $95,780 – $199,060 | 710 |
| Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $147,480 | $116,600 – $212,490 | 5,990 |
| Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $142,410 | $65,220 – $205,620 | 3,550 |
| Pharmacist | Healthcare | $139,660 | $127,550 – $168,390 | 5,280 |
| Veterinarian | Healthcare | $138,900 | $83,230 – $281,100 | 1,540 |
| Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $136,760 | $89,920 – $308,080 | 12,990 |
| Information Security Analyst | Technology | $136,550 | $86,970 – $225,300 | 5,220 |
| Management Analyst | Management | $135,640 | $83,380 – $218,830 | 26,450 |
| Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $133,940 | $86,120 – $194,310 | 2,490 |
| General and Operations Manager | Management | $133,800 | $63,020 – $329,130 | 70,950 |
| Database Architect | Technology | $132,370 | $72,510 – $176,570 | 1,910 |
| Data Scientist | Technology | $132,040 | $82,030 – $206,220 | 7,930 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $129,180 | $83,190 – $172,940 | 17,470 |
| Computer Programmer | Technology | $128,900 | $78,940 – $168,320 | 1,600 |
| Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $128,610 | $78,800 – $176,470 | 4,030 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $126,530 | $58,540 – $486,690 | 0 |
| Web Developer | Technology | $122,270 | $72,860 – $178,250 | 2,330 |
| Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $122,210 | $68,050 – $168,030 | 6,050 |
| Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $121,230 | $61,840 – $195,190 | 4,800 |
| Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $119,300 | $80,280 – $166,900 | 6,890 |
| Architect | Engineering | $119,120 | $83,220 – $161,740 | 3,930 |
| Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $118,970 | $82,600 – $163,010 | 9,010 |
| Financial Analyst | Finance | $117,520 | $79,030 – $207,010 | 13,010 |
| Network Architect | Technology | $116,770 | $79,730 – $169,530 | 6,760 |
| Audiologist | Healthcare | $108,960 | $80,170 – $129,770 | 160 |
| Web Designer | Technology | $108,520 | $62,870 – $169,520 | 1,450 |
| Civil Engineer | Engineering | $107,670 | $79,580 – $167,360 | 7,970 |
| Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $106,180 | $81,880 – $188,670 | 64,240 |
| Financial Examiner | Finance | $105,230 | $69,330 – $190,890 | 820 |
| Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $103,550 | $81,220 – $130,220 | 5,330 |
| Loan Officer | Finance | $103,400 | $65,120 – $204,820 | 3,420 |
| Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $103,110 | $59,000 – $295,500 | 3,250 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $102,810 | $71,310 – $129,950 | 3,720 |
| Market Research Analyst | Management | $102,390 | $59,730 – $167,440 | 32,310 |
| Statistician | Technology | $102,320 | $74,870 – $180,460 | 1,950 |
| Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $101,990 | $95,860 – $117,570 | 5,150 |
| Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $101,940 | $74,670 – $129,060 | 4,790 |
| Operations Research Analyst | Technology | $100,700 | $73,600 – $153,190 | 3,420 |
| Accountant | Finance | $100,150 | $72,450 – $161,450 | 37,150 |
| Secondary School Teacher | Education | $98,850 | $62,080 – $124,620 | 20,600 |
| Elementary School Teacher | Education | $98,060 | $61,660 – $124,880 | 20,340 |
| Plumber | Trades | $96,760 | $52,270 – $143,950 | 9,200 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $88,950 | $58,950 – $134,640 | 1,700 |
| Writer/Author | Creative | $85,260 | $59,150 – $138,950 | 1,130 |
| Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $81,440 | $53,800 – $145,720 | 5,380 |
| Electrician | Trades | $79,910 | $47,240 – $129,320 | 13,410 |
| Paralegal | Legal | $79,850 | $50,340 – $126,470 | 6,300 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $79,480 | $47,910 – $107,260 | 8,710 |
| Graphic Designer | Creative | $78,270 | $51,440 – $116,000 | 3,560 |
| Carpenter | Trades | $75,210 | $48,820 – $124,190 | 12,720 |
| Welder | Trades | $63,770 | $49,030 – $83,430 | 2,210 |
| Automotive Technician | Trades | $63,060 | $39,490 – $99,190 | 9,360 |
What These Numbers Tell You
The single highest-paying occupation tracked in Boston, MA is Family Medicine Physician, with a median of $284,010 and a 90th-percentile reading of $374,630. That $266,980 spread between the 10th and 90th percentiles is typical for a role of this seniority — entry-level workers cluster near the bottom of the band, while senior specialists and managers earn at the top.
Across all 65 BLS-tracked occupations in Boston, MA, the average median salary is $129,162. The top five roles average $233,902 — about 1.8× the citywide average — which is the expected shape for a U.S. metro economy: a small concentration of high-skill, high-credential occupations sits well above the broader middle.
Boston, MA is one of the most expensive metros tracked here, with a cost-of-living index of 152.1 — about 52% above the U.S. national average. Housing dominates that premium; in markets at this level, mortgage or rent often consumes 35–45% of pre-tax pay even at the median, so the headline salary numbers below understate how much purchasing power you actually keep.
Salary Negotiation in Boston, MA
For salary negotiation in Boston, MA, the practical input is the percentile band for your role and city, not the citywide average. The OEWS publishes 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile wages for every metro and occupation; you can find your role's exact percentile in the table above and use the SalaryTruth percentile calculator to anchor your offer. Cost-of-living index 152.1 should also factor in any cross-metro comparison.
For city-vs-city moves, the right benchmark is COL-adjusted pay rather than nominal pay. Our COL-adjusted salaries guide shows the exact math; the negotiation playbook covers how to use BLS percentile bands to anchor offers.
How Boston, MA Salary Data Is Built
Wages on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program — a federal survey of more than 1.2 million U.S. establishments, published once per year by Metropolitan Statistical Area and Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. We pull the BLS data file for Boston, MA, match each occupation against our role catalog, and surface percentile wages alongside employment counts. The cost-of-living index (152.1) is a composite of housing, food, transportation, and utility data from public sources, calibrated to a U.S. national average of 100. Read the full methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary in Boston, MA in 2026?
The average salary in Boston, MA is $129,162 as of 2026, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' OEWS 2025 release covering 65 occupations. The mean (employment-weighted average) gives slightly more weight to large occupations; the median across roles is also close to $129,162. The top-paying role is Family Medicine Physician at $284,010.
Is $100,000 a good salary in Boston, MA?
In Boston, MA, $100,000 has the purchasing power of $65,746 in an average-cost U.S. metro (COL index 152.1). That is meaningfully below $100K of buying power — high-cost metros eat into nominal salaries. Compared to the city's average median of $129,162, $100K is below the typical worker.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Boston, MA?
The top-paying tracked occupations in Boston, MA are Family Medicine Physician ($284,010), Obstetrician/Gynecologist ($235,460), Pediatrician ($221,170), and Computer and Information Systems Manager ($214,960). Across the top 10, median salaries range from $181,150 to $284,010. See the full ranking at /ranking/highest-paying-jobs/boston.
How does Boston, MA's cost of living affect salaries?
Boston, MA has a cost-of-living index of 152.1, 52% above the U.S. national average. A nominal salary of $129,162 in this metro has the equivalent purchasing power of $84,919 in an average-cost U.S. city. Housing is the dominant driver of this gap; in higher-COL markets, mortgage or rent typically eats 5–15 percentage points more of pre-tax pay than in average-cost metros.
How many people are employed in Boston, MA?
Across the 65 BLS-tracked occupations on this page, total employment in the Boston, MA metro is approximately 659,260. BLS OEWS sample-based estimates cover all major occupational categories but exclude very small or volatile fields where the sample is too thin to publish.
Where does this Boston, MA salary data come from?
Every wage figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — public domain federal survey data covering about 1.2 million U.S. employers. The same data is used by the U.S. Department of Labor for prevailing wage determinations.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Boston, MA MSA, 2026 release. Public domain. See bls.gov/oes. Cite as: "SalaryTruth, BLS OEWS 2026."
Last refreshed 2026-05-21 · 65 occupations · COL Index 152.1.