Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
65 Highest Paying Jobs in Boston, MA (2026)
The highest-paying job in Boston, MA, Massachusetts is Family Medicine Physician with a median salary of $284,010 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data. Across all 65 tracked occupations the average median is $129,162, with 52 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. Boston, MA has a cost-of-living index of 152.1 (national average = 100), so a $129,162 nominal salary equals $84,919 in average-cost-metro buying power.
The 65 occupations below are ranked by median wage in Boston, MA, MA, from BLS OEWS data. Boston, MA's cost-of-living index runs 152.1 (national baseline = 100), which shapes the headline-wage interpretation. Top-paying occupations in any U.S. metro typically cluster around physicians, dentists, executives, tech specialists, and licensed professionals. The specific top of the list varies with local industry concentration: tech-heavy metros boost software-engineering ranks, finance-heavy metros boost banking ranks.
Each role on the ranking links to the per-role-and-city page with full percentile distribution (p10 to p90), employment count, and cost-adjusted wage. For workers comparing offers within Boston, MA, the percentile data is the most decision-relevant.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Boston, MA
Ranked by median (50th percentile) salary. The COL-Adjusted column rebases each nominal salary to Boston, MA's cost-of-living index of 152.1 so you can compare buying power against an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $284,010 · 10th–90th $107,650–$374,630 · 2,950 jobs in metro
Family Medicine Physicians in Boston, MA earn $284,010 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $374,630. Adjusted for the local cost of living, that median equals $186,726 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $235,460 · 10th–90th $96,960–$435,010 · 500 jobs in metro
Obstetrician/Gynecologists in Boston, MA earn $235,460 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $435,010. Adjusted for the local cost of living, that median equals $154,806 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $221,170 · 10th–90th $125,170–$324,950 · 1,860 jobs in metro
Pediatricians in Boston, MA earn $221,170 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $324,950. Adjusted for the local cost of living, that median equals $145,411 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $214,960 · 10th–90th $136,800–$310,450 · 20,530 jobs in metro
Computer and Information Systems Managers in Boston, MA earn $214,960 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $310,450. Adjusted for the local cost of living, that median equals $141,328 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $213,910 · 10th–90th $131,130–$312,910 · 11,940 jobs in metro
Marketing Managers in Boston, MA earn $213,910 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $312,910. Adjusted for the local cost of living, that median equals $140,638 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $209,780 · 10th–90th $126,450–$335,150 · 21,650 jobs in metro
Financial Managers in Boston, MA earn $209,780 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $335,150. Adjusted for the local cost of living, that median equals $137,922 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $206,610 · 10th–90th $106,220–$323,670 · 11,540 jobs in metro
Sales Managers in Boston, MA earn $206,610 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $323,670. Adjusted for the local cost of living, that median equals $135,838 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $184,990 · 10th–90th $99,990–$317,690 · 6,480 jobs in metro
Human Resources Managers in Boston, MA earn $184,990 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $317,690. Adjusted for the local cost of living, that median equals $121,624 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $183,350 · 10th–90th $84,280–$379,350 · 20,080 jobs in metro
Lawyers in Boston, MA earn $183,350 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $379,350. Adjusted for the local cost of living, that median equals $120,546 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $181,150 · 10th–90th $95,550–$370,580 · 1,920 jobs in metro
Dentists in Boston, MA earn $181,150 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $370,580. Adjusted for the local cost of living, that median equals $119,099 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Full Ranking (65 Occupations)
| Rank | Role | Category | Median | 10th–90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Family Medicine Physician | Healthcare | $284,010 | $107,650–$374,630 | $186,726 | 2,950 |
| 2 | Obstetrician/Gynecologist | Healthcare | $235,460 | $96,960–$435,010 | $154,806 | 500 |
| 3 | Pediatrician | Healthcare | $221,170 | $125,170–$324,950 | $145,411 | 1,860 |
| 4 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $214,960 | $136,800–$310,450 | $141,328 | 20,530 |
| 5 | Marketing Manager | Management | $213,910 | $131,130–$312,910 | $140,638 | 11,940 |
| 6 | Financial Manager | Finance | $209,780 | $126,450–$335,150 | $137,922 | 21,650 |
| 7 | Sales Manager | Management | $206,610 | $106,220–$323,670 | $135,838 | 11,540 |
| 8 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $184,990 | $99,990–$317,690 | $121,624 | 6,480 |
| 9 | Lawyer | Legal | $183,350 | $84,280–$379,350 | $120,546 | 20,080 |
| 10 | Dentist | Healthcare | $181,150 | $95,550–$370,580 | $119,099 | 1,920 |
| 11 | Software Quality Assurance Analyst | Technology | $170,510 | $77,160–$249,910 | $112,104 | 1,620 |
| 12 | Software Developer | Technology | $166,090 | $102,950–$214,100 | $109,198 | 42,310 |
| 13 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $160,650 | $100,050–$211,820 | $105,621 | 5,240 |
| 14 | Optometrist | Healthcare | $154,970 | $95,780–$199,060 | $101,887 | 710 |
| 15 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $147,480 | $116,600–$212,490 | $96,963 | 5,990 |
| 16 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $142,410 | $65,220–$205,620 | $93,629 | 3,550 |
| 17 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $139,660 | $127,550–$168,390 | $91,821 | 5,280 |
| 18 | Veterinarian | Healthcare | $138,900 | $83,230–$281,100 | $91,321 | 1,540 |
| 19 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $136,760 | $89,920–$308,080 | $89,915 | 12,990 |
| 20 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $136,550 | $86,970–$225,300 | $89,776 | 5,220 |
| 21 | Management Analyst | Management | $135,640 | $83,380–$218,830 | $89,178 | 26,450 |
| 22 | Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $133,940 | $86,120–$194,310 | $88,060 | 2,490 |
| 23 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $133,800 | $63,020–$329,130 | $87,968 | 70,950 |
| 24 | Database Architect | Technology | $132,370 | $72,510–$176,570 | $87,028 | 1,910 |
| 25 | Data Scientist | Technology | $132,040 | $82,030–$206,220 | $86,811 | 7,930 |
| 26 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $129,180 | $83,190–$172,940 | $84,931 | 17,470 |
| 27 | Computer Programmer | Technology | $128,900 | $78,940–$168,320 | $84,747 | 1,600 |
| 28 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $128,610 | $78,800–$176,470 | $84,556 | 4,030 |
| 29 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $126,530 | $58,540–$486,690 | $83,189 | 0 |
| 30 | Web Developer | Technology | $122,270 | $72,860–$178,250 | $80,388 | 2,330 |
| 31 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $122,210 | $68,050–$168,030 | $80,348 | 6,050 |
| 32 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $121,230 | $61,840–$195,190 | $79,704 | 4,800 |
| 33 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $119,300 | $80,280–$166,900 | $78,435 | 6,890 |
| 34 | Architect | Engineering | $119,120 | $83,220–$161,740 | $78,317 | 3,930 |
| 35 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $118,970 | $82,600–$163,010 | $78,218 | 9,010 |
| 36 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $117,520 | $79,030–$207,010 | $77,265 | 13,010 |
| 37 | Network Architect | Technology | $116,770 | $79,730–$169,530 | $76,772 | 6,760 |
| 38 | Audiologist | Healthcare | $108,960 | $80,170–$129,770 | $71,637 | 160 |
| 39 | Web Designer | Technology | $108,520 | $62,870–$169,520 | $71,348 | 1,450 |
| 40 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $107,670 | $79,580–$167,360 | $70,789 | 7,970 |
| 41 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $106,180 | $81,880–$188,670 | $69,809 | 64,240 |
| 42 | Financial Examiner | Finance | $105,230 | $69,330–$190,890 | $69,185 | 820 |
| 43 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $103,550 | $81,220–$130,220 | $68,080 | 5,330 |
| 44 | Loan Officer | Finance | $103,400 | $65,120–$204,820 | $67,982 | 3,420 |
| 45 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $103,110 | $59,000–$295,500 | $67,791 | 3,250 |
| 46 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $102,810 | $71,310–$129,950 | $67,594 | 3,720 |
| 47 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $102,390 | $59,730–$167,440 | $67,318 | 32,310 |
| 48 | Statistician | Technology | $102,320 | $74,870–$180,460 | $67,272 | 1,950 |
| 49 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $101,990 | $95,860–$117,570 | $67,055 | 5,150 |
| 50 | Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $101,940 | $74,670–$129,060 | $67,022 | 4,790 |
| 51 | Operations Research Analyst | Technology | $100,700 | $73,600–$153,190 | $66,206 | 3,420 |
| 52 | Accountant | Finance | $100,150 | $72,450–$161,450 | $65,845 | 37,150 |
| 53 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $98,850 | $62,080–$124,620 | $64,990 | 20,600 |
| 54 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $98,060 | $61,660–$124,880 | $64,471 | 20,340 |
| 55 | Plumber | Trades | $96,760 | $52,270–$143,950 | $63,616 | 9,200 |
| 56 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $88,950 | $58,950–$134,640 | $58,481 | 1,700 |
| 57 | Writer/Author | Creative | $85,260 | $59,150–$138,950 | $56,055 | 1,130 |
| 58 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $81,440 | $53,800–$145,720 | $53,544 | 5,380 |
| 59 | Electrician | Trades | $79,910 | $47,240–$129,320 | $52,538 | 13,410 |
| 60 | Paralegal | Legal | $79,850 | $50,340–$126,470 | $52,498 | 6,300 |
| 61 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $79,480 | $47,910–$107,260 | $52,255 | 8,710 |
| 62 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $78,270 | $51,440–$116,000 | $51,460 | 3,560 |
| 63 | Carpenter | Trades | $75,210 | $48,820–$124,190 | $49,448 | 12,720 |
| 64 | Welder | Trades | $63,770 | $49,030–$83,430 | $41,926 | 2,210 |
| 65 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $63,060 | $39,490–$99,190 | $41,460 | 9,360 |
Why These Roles Pay the Most in Boston, MA
Boston, MA combines biotech, higher-education-driven research, and financial services — three sectors that pay specialists at the upper end of national distributions. Healthcare is also a major regional employer, with strong pay for advanced practice clinicians.
An average median salary above $90K places this metro in the top tier of U.S. cities for nominal pay. Most of that premium accrues to the upper percentiles of skilled and managerial occupations; entry-level and service-sector pay is closer to national norms.
Boston, MA's cost-of-living index of 152.1 is among the highest tracked anywhere. Roughly 50% of nominal salary gains relative to a national-average metro are absorbed by housing alone; an additional 5–15% is consumed by transportation, food, and services. The COL-Adjusted column in the table above translates each nominal salary back to "what would buy this much in an average-cost metro" — that is the right benchmark for a cross-city comparison.
How to Use This Ranking
For salary negotiation, the median is a starting anchor — not the ceiling. A Family Medicine Physician with five-plus years of experience in Boston, MA should be benchmarking against the 75th percentile ($329,320) or 90th percentile ($374,630), not the $284,010 median. Use the salary percentile calculator to place any specific salary into the BLS distribution for any role-and-city pair.
For cross-city comparisons, ignore the nominal Median column and look at COL-Adjusted. A $284K Family Medicine Physician salary in Boston, MA (COL 152.1) translates to $187K of buying power in an average-cost metro — that is the apples-to-apples figure when weighing a relocation. Read the methodology behind these adjustments in our methodology page.
For job hunting, focus on the top-10 ranking above and on the role-by-role detail pages — each links through to a Family Medicine Physician in Boston, MA page with full percentile breakdowns, year-over-year change, and prevailing-wage references for H-1B / PERM applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest paying job in Boston, MA is Family Medicine Physician with a median salary of $284,010 and a 90th-percentile reading of $374,630. The role employs roughly 2,950 workers in this metro according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2025 OEWS data.
52 of the 65 BLS-tracked occupations in Boston, MA have a median salary of $100,000 or higher. That is well above what most U.S. metros offer. See the full list ranked by median salary above.
Across 65 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in Boston, MA is $129,162. The cost-of-living index is 152.1, so adjusted to a national-average baseline, the average is $84,919 in equivalent purchasing power.
Boston, MA offers high nominal salaries — the average median is $129,162 — but the cost of living index of 152.1 consumes a meaningful share of that premium. The COL-adjusted average is $84,919, which is the right comparison when weighing offers in lower-cost metros.
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 across all industries. The OEWS publishes 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile wages by Metropolitan Statistical Area and Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. The same data is used by the Department of Labor for prevailing wage determinations.
Related Pages
Rankings based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 reference period. COL adjustments use a composite cost-of-living index calibrated to U.S. average = 100.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.