Massachusetts Average Salary 2026
Average pay, top-paying occupations, and cost of living across Massachusetts.
The average salary in Massachusetts is $116,591 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS 2024 data aggregated across 1 metropolitan areas (Boston). The highest-paying tracked occupation in the state is Computer and Information Systems Manager at $207,150 median; 34 occupations pay six-figure ($100K+) medians. Adjusted for the state's average cost-of-living index of 152, the average median equates to $76,705 of purchasing power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Massachusetts
Computer and Information Systems Manager
Technology · 22,280 jobs in state · top metro: Boston ($207,150)
Marketing Manager
Management · 11,440 jobs in state · top metro: Boston ($200,010)
Lawyer
Legal · 18,900 jobs in state · top metro: Boston ($194,740)
Financial Manager
Finance · 22,830 jobs in state · top metro: Boston ($188,490)
Human Resources Manager
Management · 5,700 jobs in state · top metro: Boston ($180,050)
Sales Manager
Management · 11,110 jobs in state · top metro: Boston ($175,360)
Software Quality Assurance Analyst
Technology · 1,520 jobs in state · top metro: Boston ($167,300)
Software Developer
Technology · 48,200 jobs in state · top metro: Boston ($154,240)
Computer Network Architect
Technology · 4,660 jobs in state · top metro: Boston ($141,020)
Nurse Practitioner
Healthcare · 6,660 jobs in state · top metro: Boston ($138,890)
Cities in Massachusetts
Frequently Asked Questions
The average salary in Massachusetts is $116,591 as of 2026, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' OEWS 2024 release aggregated across 1 BLS-tracked metros. The figure is employment-weighted, so larger occupations contribute proportionally more to the average. The top-paying role in the state is Computer and Information Systems Manager at $207,150 median.
The top five highest-paying occupations in Massachusetts, ranked by employment-weighted median across all tracked metros, are Computer and Information Systems Manager ($207,150), Marketing Manager ($200,010), Lawyer ($194,740), Financial Manager ($188,490), Human Resources Manager ($180,050). See the full ranking at /ranking/highest-paying-jobs/state/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.
Boston, MA leads Massachusetts with an average median salary of $116,591 across 52 BLS-tracked occupations.
The average cost-of-living index across Massachusetts's tracked metros is 152 (national avg = 100). The state average median of $116,591 translates to $76,705 of purchasing power in an average-cost U.S. metro. The high COL absorbs much of the nominal pay premium.
State aggregates are employment-weighted across the BLS-tracked metros in Massachusetts, using the OEWS 2024 reference period.
52 data points · BLS OEWS 2024 · last refreshed 2026-05-08