StateRates

Boston-Cambridge-Newton salaries

The median worker in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earned $64,620 a year in 2024, about $31.07 an hour. That ranks #6 of the 391 metro areas published here, 30.5% above the national median.

Massachusetts New Hampshire

Median pay $64,620 $31.07 per hour
Vs national +30.5% U.S. $49,500
Workers 2,707,940 wage and salary
Metro rank #6 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Boston-Cambridge-Newton pays 3.8% more than Massachusetts as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Biochemists and Biophysicists 20.51× 12,430 $127,510
19-3041 10.93× 570 $103,510
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers 8.87× 3,410 $110,880
Biological Technicians 5.74× 7,680 $64,380
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists 5.58× 15,330 $129,230
Microbiologists 5.15× 1,790 $124,580
Natural Sciences Managers 4.33× 7,670 $219,380
Materials Scientists 3.74× 550 $118,010
Statisticians 3.41× 1,790 $99,230
Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians 3.32× 860 $69,520
Pediatricians, General 3.13× 2,360 $213,240
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer 3.09× 5,090 $136,040

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
29-1222 $228,050 $109.64 200
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates $221,710 $106.59 430
Natural Sciences Managers $219,380 $105.47 7,670
Pediatricians, General $213,240 $102.52 2,360
Physicians, All Other $212,030 $101.94 6,650
Computer and Information Systems Managers $207,150 $99.59 22,280
Marketing Managers $200,010 $96.16 11,440
Lawyers $194,740 $93.63 18,900
Financial Managers $188,490 $90.62 22,830
Compensation and Benefits Managers $181,910 $87.46 580
Human Resources Managers $180,050 $86.56 5,700
Architectural and Engineering Managers $178,800 $85.96 7,160
Sales Managers $175,360 $84.31 11,110
Managers, All Other $174,840 $84.06 9,240
Purchasing Managers $170,900 $82.17 2,080
Computer Hardware Engineers $170,570 $82.01 2,960
Public Relations Managers $169,100 $81.30 1,930
Computer and Information Research Scientists $167,300 $80.43 1,520
Law Teachers, Postsecondary $164,000 n/a 850
Database Architects $162,310 $78.03 1,430
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary $162,050 n/a 550
Fundraising Managers $160,100 $76.97 1,510
Training and Development Managers $159,780 $76.82 1,010
Construction Managers $156,590 $75.28 6,970
Optometrists $155,890 $74.95 760
Software Developers $154,240 $74.15 48,200
Physicists $153,890 $73.99 500
Aerospace Engineers $151,080 $72.64 940
Psychiatrists $146,810 $70.58 900
Physical Scientists, All Other $141,980 $68.26 520
Industrial Production Managers $141,590 $68.07 3,710
Computer Network Architects $141,020 $67.80 4,660
Nurse Practitioners $138,890 $66.77 6,660
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary $138,440 n/a 9,050
Pharmacists $136,800 $65.77 5,900
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer $136,040 $65.40 5,090
Sales Engineers $135,310 $65.05 2,050
Advertising and Promotions Managers $135,270 $65.03 320
Physician Assistants $135,000 $64.90 3,370
Medical and Health Services Managers $134,980 $64.90 14,330
Management Analysts $134,580 $64.70 26,530
Engineers, All Other $132,840 $63.87 2,660
Veterinarians $132,790 $63.84 1,510
Art Directors $132,340 $63.63 1,490
Information Security Analysts $132,170 $63.55 4,870
Data Scientists $131,830 $63.38 8,220
Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors $131,520 $63.23 440
Chemists $130,830 $62.90 2,870
General and Operations Managers $129,850 $62.43 76,980
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary $129,330 n/a 7,310
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists $129,230 $62.13 15,330
Education Administrators, Postsecondary $128,110 $61.59 6,890
Electrical Engineers $127,520 $61.31 3,920
Biochemists and Biophysicists $127,510 $61.30 12,430
Actuaries $126,870 $61.00 980
Psychologists, All Other $126,870 $61.00 420
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers $125,440 $60.31 5,700
Facilities Managers $124,900 $60.05 4,490
Microbiologists $124,580 $59.89 1,790
Mechanical Engineers $124,160 $59.69 8,050

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Boston-Cambridge-Newton by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
General and Operations Managers 76,980 $129,850 $62.43
Registered Nurses 66,440 $102,440 $49.25
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 63,880 $39,790 $19.13
Retail Salespersons 62,540 $36,570 $17.58
Fast Food and Counter Workers 57,320 $35,430 $17.04
Software Developers 48,200 $154,240 $74.15
Cashiers 45,260 $35,150 $16.90
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 44,220 $46,230 $22.23
Customer Service Representatives 41,150 $49,060 $23.59
Waiters and Waitresses 38,520 $37,040 $17.81
Accountants and Auditors 36,300 $97,580 $46.91
Stockers and Order Fillers 35,650 $38,280 $18.40
Office Clerks, General 35,480 $49,670 $23.88
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists 30,540 $95,930 $46.12
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers 29,130 $76,980 $37.01
Management Analysts 26,530 $134,580 $64.70
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 25,970 $56,060 $26.95
Nursing Assistants 25,870 $46,110 $22.17
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary 25,480 $37,980 n/a
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel 25,020 $79,860 $38.39

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other Massachusetts metro areas

Boston-Cambridge-Newton pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?

The median across all occupations is $64,620, or $31.07 an hour, covering 2,707,940 wage and salary workers. The mean is $87,040, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Boston-Cambridge-Newton pay more than the rest of Massachusetts?

Yes. The metro median of $64,620 is 3.8% above the Massachusetts median of $62,270. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?

29-1222 ($228,050), Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates ($221,710), Natural Sciences Managers ($219,380). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Boston-Cambridge-Newton unusually full of?

Biochemists and Biophysicists, at 20.51× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.