Average Salary in Massachusetts
What workers in Massachusetts earn: mean and median wages, monthly and hourly pay, the full wage distribution, household income and cost-of-living context. Wage data: BLS OEWS May 2025.
- Mean annual wage$85,610Rank #2 of 51 · US $69,770
- Median annual wage$63,590Rank #2 of 51 · US $50,980
- Mean hourly wage$41.16Median $30.57/hour
- Median monthly pay$5,299Mean $7,134/month
- Median household income$104,828ACS 2024 · rank #2
- Price level (RPP)105.8US = 100 · BEA 2024
What is the average salary in Massachusetts?
The average (mean) annual wage across all occupations in Massachusetts is $85,610, and the median annual wage is $63,590, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 OEWS estimates. The mean is 22.7% above the national mean of $69,770; the median is 24.7% above the national median of $50,980. Massachusetts ranks #2 of the 50 states and DC for mean wage and #2 for median wage.
The mean is $22,020 (35%) higher than the median. That gap is normal: a minority of very high earners pulls the average up, so the median is the better guide to what a typical worker in Massachusetts earns. Why mean and median differ →
The estimates cover 3,637,650 wage and salary jobs in Massachusetts (self-employed workers are not included).
Monthly, weekly and hourly pay in Massachusetts
Gross pay before taxes. Monthly = annual ÷ 12, bi-weekly = annual ÷ 26, weekly = annual ÷ 52. Hourly figures are published by BLS.
| Pay period | Mean (average) | Median (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | $85,610 | $63,590 |
| Monthly | $7,134 | $5,299 |
| Bi-weekly paycheck | $3,293 | $2,446 |
| Weekly | $1,646 | $1,223 |
| Hourly | $41.16 | $30.57 |
Estimate take-home pay on the Massachusetts median wage (2026 tax year) →
What is a good salary in Massachusetts?
“Good” depends on your household and where in the state you live, but the wage distribution shows where a salary stands relative to other workers in Massachusetts:
| Percentile | Annual | Monthly | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,330 | $3,028 | 90% of workers earn more |
| 25th | $44,730 | $3,728 | 75% earn more |
| 50th (median) | $63,590 | $5,299 | half earn more, half less |
| 75th | $102,580 | $8,548 | top 25% earn more than this |
| 90th | $163,010 | $13,584 | top 10% earn more than this |
In practice, a salary above $63,590 beats more than half of Massachusetts workers, about $102,580 puts you in the top quarter, and $163,010 or more puts you in the top 10%. These are individual wages, not household income. Compare percentiles across states →
Household income and earnings in Massachusetts
| Measure (ACS 2024) | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $104,828 | $81,604 |
| Median family income | $131,831 | $101,265 |
| Per-capita income | $57,789 | $45,256 |
| Median earnings, all workers with earnings | $57,238 | $46,949 |
| Median earnings, men working full-time year-round | $82,255 | $66,965 |
| Median earnings, women working full-time year-round | $72,471 | $55,678 |
Household income adds up the income of everyone in a household — often two earners, plus Social Security, investment and self-employment income — so it is higher than any per-worker wage figure. Women working full-time year-round in Massachusetts have median earnings equal to 88% of men’s. Household income in every state →
Salary vs. cost of living in Massachusetts
Prices in Massachusetts are about 5.8% above the national average (BEA regional price parity 105.8; housing 128.1). Adjusted for that, the median wage of $63,590 is worth $60,104 at national-average prices (rank #2), and the mean wage is worth $80,917 (rank #2). Cost-of-living adjusted ranking →
Massachusetts taxes wage income, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures above by federal tax, FICA and state income tax.
Massachusetts vs. neighboring states
| State | Mean wage | Median wage | RPP | Adjusted median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $85,610 | $63,590 | 105.8 | $60,104 |
| Connecticut | $77,420 | $59,690 | 103.6 | $57,616 |
| New Hampshire | $71,360 | $55,880 | 104.2 | $53,628 |
| New York | $82,460 | $59,670 | 107.9 | $55,301 |
| Rhode Island | $71,900 | $56,780 | 102.3 | $55,503 |
| Vermont | $69,050 | $56,390 | 98.0 | $57,541 |
Highest-paying occupations in Massachusetts
Detailed occupations with at least 300 jobs in the state, ranked by mean annual wage. “$239,200+” means BLS reports only that the wage is at or above that level.
| Occupation | Mean wage | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | $370,880 | $356,230 | 890 |
| Surgeons, All Other | $346,190 | $387,150 | 770 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $303,310 | $295,550 | 500 |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $297,280 | $325,200 | 450 |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $289,280 | $272,240 | 620 |
| Physicians, Pathologists | $281,410 | $285,240 | 320 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $271,340 | $277,490 | 3,540 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $257,010 | $267,290 | 10,590 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $253,080 | $285,250 | 1,590 |
| Physicians, All Other | $247,150 | $236,580 | 8,210 |
Most common jobs in Massachusetts and what they pay
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 117,940 | $40,910 | $19.67 |
| General and Operations Managers | 95,880 | $127,220 | $61.16 |
| Registered Nurses | 88,200 | $104,550 | $50.27 |
| Retail Salespersons | 86,860 | $36,610 | $17.60 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 85,810 | $35,850 | $17.24 |
| Cashiers | 58,880 | $35,520 | $17.08 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 55,490 | $45,580 | $21.91 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 54,670 | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 49,990 | $49,120 | $23.61 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 49,760 | $37,540 | $18.05 |
The largest occupation in Massachusetts is home health and personal care aides, with 117,940 jobs and a median wage of $40,910. Many of the most common jobs pay well below the state median, which is one reason the overall median sits far below the mean.
Salaries for 54 common occupations in Massachusetts
| Occupation | Mean wage | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physician | $271,340 | $277,490 | 3,540 |
| Marketing Manager | $213,230 | $212,020 | 14,270 |
| Financial Manager | $218,230 | $206,760 | 26,150 |
| Dentist (General) | $223,200 | $181,600 | 2,780 |
| Lawyer | $205,980 | $176,680 | 23,560 |
| Software Developer | $161,730 | $165,210 | 48,190 |
| Construction Manager | $155,900 | $145,010 | 9,870 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $152,320 | $142,440 | 8,070 |
| Physician Assistant | $146,480 | $142,410 | 4,470 |
| Pharmacist | $138,660 | $138,170 | 7,230 |
| Information Security Analyst | $151,000 | $136,550 | 6,100 |
| Medical and Health Services Manager | $161,150 | $134,360 | 17,600 |
| Data Scientist | $136,460 | $131,750 | 9,420 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $128,440 | $128,240 | 22,160 |
| Electrical Engineer | $130,190 | $127,720 | 5,040 |
| General and Operations Manager | $155,020 | $127,220 | 95,880 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $121,430 | $119,300 | 7,680 |
| Project Management Specialist | $120,970 | $114,190 | 21,960 |
| Financial and Investment Analyst | $129,680 | $111,040 | 14,790 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrator | $118,240 | $110,980 | 8,270 |
| Civil Engineer | $117,330 | $106,730 | 9,450 |
| Registered Nurse | $117,960 | $104,550 | 88,200 |
| Physical Therapist | $106,900 | $103,790 | 6,850 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $101,890 | $101,310 | 5,290 |
| Occupational Therapist | $99,730 | $100,930 | 6,510 |
| Dental Hygienist | $102,160 | $100,640 | 6,850 |
| Accountant and Auditor | $107,170 | $99,460 | 46,230 |
| Web Developer | $108,520 | $98,470 | 1,940 |
| High School Teacher | $90,270 | $95,260 | 28,460 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $88,720 | $94,000 | 29,930 |
| Plumber, Pipefitter and Steamfitter | $90,410 | $93,880 | 13,460 |
| Middle School Teacher | $87,300 | $89,450 | 16,570 |
| Correctional Officer | $82,890 | $86,310 | 6,360 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $95,400 | $85,630 | 27,300 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN) | $79,270 | $80,220 | 13,210 |
| Electrician | $81,560 | $79,420 | 17,810 |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $83,230 | $78,940 | 17,040 |
| Paralegal and Legal Assistant | $81,160 | $77,640 | 7,800 |
| HVAC Technician | $77,760 | $77,300 | 8,200 |
| Child, Family and School Social Worker | $77,060 | $75,570 | 10,900 |
| Carpenter | $79,680 | $75,200 | 18,540 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $73,640 | $73,270 | 4,870 |
| Firefighter | $73,220 | $72,800 | 11,940 |
| Construction Laborer | $70,830 | $63,390 | 16,210 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $63,570 | $63,030 | 30,890 |
| Welder | $65,050 | $62,570 | 2,830 |
| Automotive Service Technician | $62,960 | $60,760 | 12,710 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting and Auditing Clerk | $60,460 | $59,830 | 29,110 |
| Secretary and Administrative Assistant | $58,380 | $57,940 | 37,750 |
| Medical Assistant | $51,850 | $49,460 | 14,880 |
| Customer Service Representative | $52,750 | $49,120 | 49,990 |
| Nursing Assistant (CNA) | $47,700 | $46,680 | 38,130 |
| Retail Salesperson | $39,970 | $36,610 | 86,860 |
| Cashier | $36,860 | $35,520 | 58,880 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Massachusetts?
The average (mean) annual wage in Massachusetts is $85,610, or $41.16 per hour, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates. The median wage — what a typical worker earns — is $63,590 a year ($30.57 per hour).
What is the average monthly salary in Massachusetts?
Dividing the annual figures by 12, the mean wage in Massachusetts works out to about $7,134 per month and the median wage to about $5,299 per month, before taxes.
What is considered a good salary in Massachusetts?
Earning more than the median of $63,590 puts you above half of all workers in Massachusetts. A salary of $102,580 or more is in the top 25%, and $163,010 or more is in the top 10% of wage earners in the state.
What is the median household income in Massachusetts?
Median household income in Massachusetts was $104,828 in the Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey, compared with $81,604 nationally. Household income combines all earners and income sources in a home.
Does Massachusetts have a state income tax on wages?
Yes. Massachusetts taxes wage income, so state income tax is deducted from paychecks in addition to federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare.