Salaries & Cost of Living in Boston, Massachusetts
The global epicenter of biotechnology, life sciences, robotics, and elite higher education with top-bracket wages. Discover salary benchmarks, wage percentiles, state income tax deductions, and housing costs across 20+ high-demand professions in Boston.
Boston Cost of Living by Expense Category
Normalized cost index (100 = U.S. National Average).
Key City Advantages & Living Factors
Climate: Continental (Cold winters, warm summers)Role Salaries in Boston
Explore 10th to 90th percentile salary benchmarks and estimated monthly take-home pay in Boston.
| Job Title | Category | Median Base Pay | Est. Net Take-Home | View Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Product Manager | Product | $236,800/yr | ~$14,997/mo | View |
| Senior Software Engineer | Engineering | $224,000/yr | ~$14,187/mo | View |
| Product Manager | Product | $181,760/yr | ~$11,512/mo | View |
| DevOps & Cloud Engineer | Engineering | $179,200/yr | ~$11,349/mo | View |
| Data Scientist | Data | $176,640/yr | ~$11,187/mo | View |
| Backend Engineer | Engineering | $172,800/yr | ~$10,944/mo | View |
| Software Engineer | Engineering | $168,960/yr | ~$10,701/mo | View |
| Frontend Engineer | Engineering | $158,720/yr | ~$10,052/mo | View |
| Product Designer | Design | $156,160/yr | ~$9,890/mo | View |
| Growth Marketer | Marketing | $147,200/yr | ~$9,323/mo | View |
| UX / UI Designer | Design | $143,360/yr | ~$9,080/mo | View |
| Marketing Manager | Marketing | $138,240/yr | ~$8,755/mo | View |
| Account Executive (SaaS) | Sales | $134,400/yr | ~$8,512/mo | View |
| QA & Test Automation Engineer | Engineering | $130,560/yr | ~$8,269/mo | View |
| Financial Analyst | Finance | $122,880/yr | ~$7,782/mo | View |
| Technical Recruiter | Human Resources | $120,320/yr | ~$7,620/mo | View |
| Data Analyst | Data | $117,760/yr | ~$7,458/mo | View |
| Customer Success Manager | Customer Support | $113,920/yr | ~$7,215/mo | View |
| SEO Specialist | Marketing | $108,800/yr | ~$6,891/mo | View |
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Relocation Comparisons from Boston
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Frequently Asked Questions: Living & Working in Boston
What is considered a good salary in Boston?
In Boston, an annual salary between $90,000 and $140,000 is generally considered very comfortable for a single professional, easily covering median 1-bedroom rental costs ($2,750/mo) while allowing significant savings.
How do salaries in Boston compare to the U.S. national average?
On average, compensation in Boston is 28% above the U.S. national baseline across technology, product, and engineering roles.
What are state income taxes in Boston (MA)?
The estimated statutory state and local income tax rate in Boston is approximately 5%.
What is the average rent in Boston?
The median rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Boston, Massachusetts is currently around $2,750 per month.
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