Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2024 reference period
52 Highest Paying Jobs in Massachusetts (2026)
The highest-paying job in Massachusetts is Computer and Information Systems Manager with a state-aggregated median salary of $207,150 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data weighted across the state's 1 BLS-tracked metro. Across all 52 occupations the average median is $116,591, with 34 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. Massachusetts's average cost-of-living index is 152, so the average median equates to $76,705 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Massachusetts
Ranked by state-aggregated median (50th percentile) salary, employment-weighted across Massachusetts's single tracked metro.
State median $207,150 · 22,280 jobs · top metro: Boston ($207,150)
Computer and Information Systems Managers in Massachusetts earn $207,150 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Boston) pays $207,150 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $200,010 · 11,440 jobs · top metro: Boston ($200,010)
Marketing Managers in Massachusetts earn $200,010 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Boston) pays $200,010 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $194,740 · 18,900 jobs · top metro: Boston ($194,740)
Lawyers in Massachusetts earn $194,740 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Boston) pays $194,740 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $188,490 · 22,830 jobs · top metro: Boston ($188,490)
Financial Managers in Massachusetts earn $188,490 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Boston) pays $188,490 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $180,050 · 5,700 jobs · top metro: Boston ($180,050)
Human Resources Managers in Massachusetts earn $180,050 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Boston) pays $180,050 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $175,360 · 11,110 jobs · top metro: Boston ($175,360)
Sales Managers in Massachusetts earn $175,360 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Boston) pays $175,360 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $167,300 · 1,520 jobs · top metro: Boston ($167,300)
Software Quality Assurance Analysts in Massachusetts earn $167,300 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Boston) pays $167,300 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $154,240 · 48,200 jobs · top metro: Boston ($154,240)
Software Developers in Massachusetts earn $154,240 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Boston) pays $154,240 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $141,020 · 4,660 jobs · top metro: Boston ($141,020)
Computer Network Architects in Massachusetts earn $141,020 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Boston) pays $141,020 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $138,890 · 6,660 jobs · top metro: Boston ($138,890)
Nurse Practitioners in Massachusetts earn $138,890 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Boston) pays $138,890 median, materially above the state aggregate.
Full Ranking: All 52 Tracked Occupations
| Rank | Role | Category | State Median | Top Metro | Top Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $207,150 | Boston | $207,150 | 22,280 |
| 2 | Marketing Manager | Management | $200,010 | Boston | $200,010 | 11,440 |
| 3 | Lawyer | Legal | $194,740 | Boston | $194,740 | 18,900 |
| 4 | Financial Manager | Finance | $188,490 | Boston | $188,490 | 22,830 |
| 5 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $180,050 | Boston | $180,050 | 5,700 |
| 6 | Sales Manager | Management | $175,360 | Boston | $175,360 | 11,110 |
| 7 | Software Quality Assurance Analyst | Technology | $167,300 | Boston | $167,300 | 1,520 |
| 8 | Software Developer | Technology | $154,240 | Boston | $154,240 | 48,200 |
| 9 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $141,020 | Boston | $141,020 | 4,660 |
| 10 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $138,890 | Boston | $138,890 | 6,660 |
| 11 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $136,800 | Boston | $136,800 | 5,900 |
| 12 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $135,000 | Boston | $135,000 | 3,370 |
| 13 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $134,980 | Boston | $134,980 | 14,330 |
| 14 | Management Analyst | Management | $134,580 | Boston | $134,580 | 26,530 |
| 15 | Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $132,840 | Boston | $132,840 | 2,660 |
| 16 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $132,170 | Boston | $132,170 | 4,870 |
| 17 | Data Scientist | Technology | $131,830 | Boston | $131,830 | 8,220 |
| 18 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $129,850 | Boston | $129,850 | 76,980 |
| 19 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $127,520 | Boston | $127,520 | 3,920 |
| 20 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $125,440 | Boston | $125,440 | 5,700 |
| 21 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $124,160 | Boston | $124,160 | 8,050 |
| 22 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $123,550 | Boston | $123,550 | 14,160 |
| 23 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $110,450 | Boston | $110,450 | 15,880 |
| 24 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $109,960 | Boston | $109,960 | 8,450 |
| 25 | Web Developer | Technology | $108,300 | Boston | $108,300 | 2,250 |
| 26 | Network Architect | Technology | $106,690 | Boston | $106,690 | 6,290 |
| 27 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $106,430 | Boston | $106,430 | 4,880 |
| 28 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $104,750 | Boston | $104,750 | 8,300 |
| 29 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $103,100 | Boston | $103,100 | 3,610 |
| 30 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $102,440 | Boston | $102,440 | 66,440 |
| 31 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $102,060 | Boston | $102,060 | 5,080 |
| 32 | Architect | Engineering | $101,750 | Boston | $101,750 | 4,160 |
| 33 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $101,470 | Boston | $101,470 | 4,860 |
| 34 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $101,320 | Boston | $101,320 | 6,440 |
| 35 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $99,600 | Boston | $99,600 | 3,610 |
| 36 | Accountant | Finance | $97,580 | Boston | $97,580 | 36,300 |
| 37 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $95,930 | Boston | $95,930 | 30,540 |
| 38 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $95,220 | Boston | $95,220 | 20,760 |
| 39 | Loan Officer | Finance | $94,850 | Boston | $94,850 | 3,320 |
| 40 | Financial Examiner | Finance | $88,070 | Boston | $88,070 | 950 |
| 41 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $86,600 | Boston | $86,600 | 22,040 |
| 42 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $86,290 | Boston | $86,290 | 1,860 |
| 43 | Plumber | Trades | $83,640 | Boston | $83,640 | 11,320 |
| 44 | Electrician | Trades | $83,450 | Boston | $83,450 | 12,540 |
| 45 | Writer/Author | Creative | $78,870 | Boston | $78,870 | 1,070 |
| 46 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $78,000 | Boston | $78,000 | 3,690 |
| 47 | Paralegal | Legal | $77,470 | Boston | $77,470 | 6,050 |
| 48 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $76,680 | Boston | $76,680 | 6,460 |
| 49 | Carpenter | Trades | $73,800 | Boston | $73,800 | 13,030 |
| 50 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $70,360 | Boston | $70,360 | 9,920 |
| 51 | Welder | Trades | $62,240 | Boston | $62,240 | 2,270 |
| 52 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $59,390 | Boston | $59,390 | 9,220 |
Why These Roles Pay the Most in Massachusetts
Massachusetts's economy is concentrated in biotech, higher-education-driven research, financial services, and healthcare around Boston. Specialist pay across these sectors runs well above national averages; the cost of living premium absorbs some of that.
$Massachusetts tracks $1 BLS-published metros covering approximately $659,580 workers across the $52 occupations on this page. State-aggregated medians are employment-weighted across metros, which is the right way to read "state pay" when BLS publishes by metro. The Computer and Information Systems Manager top spot reflects Boston pulling the upper end of the distribution; smaller metros in Massachusetts typically pay 10–25% less for the same role.
Metro-by-Metro Detail
For salary data specific to one metro within Massachusetts, see:
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest paying job in Massachusetts is Computer and Information Systems Manager with a state median salary of $207,150. The top-paying metro for this role is Boston at $207,150 median. The role employs roughly 22,280 workers across Massachusetts.
34 of the 52 BLS-tracked occupations in Massachusetts have a state-aggregated median salary of $100,000 or higher. That places this state in the upper tier nationally for high-paying occupations.
Across 52 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in Massachusetts is $116,591. The figure is employment-weighted across 1 metros, so larger occupations and larger metros contribute proportionally more. Cost-of-living-adjusted to a national-average baseline, it equates to $76,705.
BLS OEWS publishes wage data by Metropolitan Statistical Area. For Massachusetts, this page aggregates Boston. Some non-MSA areas (small towns, rural counties) are excluded from OEWS metro tables but covered in BLS state-level summaries; we use metro-level data to preserve the percentile granularity.
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. State aggregates are computed by employment-weighting metro-level percentile wages across the BLS-tracked metros in Massachusetts.
State aggregates are employment-weighted across the BLS-tracked metros in Massachusetts, using OEWS 2024 data.