Baker Salary in Boston, MA
Bakers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $38,570 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,462 take-home, or $2,622 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median baker salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,448
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,391
- Medicare (1.45%)$559
- Massachusetts income tax$1,709
- Take-home pay$31,462
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Baker pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,720 | $17.17 | $29,315 | $2,443 |
| 25th percentile | $36,820 | $17.70 | $30,144 | $2,512 |
| Median (50th) | $38,570 | $18.54 | $31,462 | $2,622 |
| 75th percentile | $46,130 | $22.18 | $37,159 | $3,097 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,300 | $23.22 | $38,794 | $3,233 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,570 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median baker's $31,462 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,060 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Baker jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for bakers, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #14 of 18 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $48,180 | $40,893 | $36,796 |
| 2 | Denver, CO | $42,490 | $35,160 | $33,238 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $46,600 | $38,164 | $33,010 |
| 4 | Riverside, CA | $41,790 | $34,554 | $32,463 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $43,440 | $34,113 | $32,359 |
| 6 | Charlotte, NC | $36,580 | $30,621 | $31,455 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $37,800 | $31,816 | $30,795 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $37,140 | $30,717 | $30,699 |
| 14 | Boston, MA | $38,570 | $31,462 | $29,060 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 18 metros →
About the job: bakers
Mix and bake ingredients to produce breads, rolls, cookies, cakes, pies, pastries, or other baked goods. Pastry chefs in restaurants and hotels are included with "Chefs and Head Cooks" (35-1011).
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.5% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a baker make in Boston, MA?
The median baker salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $38,570 a year, or about $18.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,820 and $46,130.
What is a baker’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $38,570 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $31,462 a year ($2,622 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,709 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a baker?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $37,160. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,060 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #14 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a baker afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 87% of a median baker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $82,660
- Machinist — $72,060
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $58,210
- Production Workers, All Other — $48,790
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers — $48,060
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $47,860
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $44,390
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker — $37,690
- Food Batchmaker — $37,010