Cashier Salary in Boston, MA
Cashiers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $36,040 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,556 take-home, or $2,463 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cashier salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,145
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,234
- Medicare (1.45%)$523
- Massachusetts income tax$1,582
- Take-home pay$29,556
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 →
Cashier pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,180 | $15.47 | $26,648 | $2,221 |
| 25th percentile | $34,390 | $16.53 | $28,313 | $2,359 |
| Median (50th) | $36,040 | $17.33 | $29,556 | $2,463 |
| 75th percentile | $38,460 | $18.49 | $31,380 | $2,615 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,820 | $22.03 | $36,925 | $3,077 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,040 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 cashier's $29,556 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,300 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cashier jobs are less concentrated in Boston, MA than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cashiers, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #106 of 202 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $44,210 | $37,703 | $33,926 |
| 2 | Rochester, MN | $34,960 | $29,219 | $32,172 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $42,960 | $35,432 | $32,088 |
| 4 | Fargo, ND | $33,420 | $29,033 | $31,950 |
| 5 | Kennewick, WA | $36,610 | $31,596 | $31,571 |
| 6 | Duluth, MN | $33,020 | $27,764 | $31,277 |
| 7 | Spokane, WA | $36,290 | $31,339 | $31,231 |
| 8 | St. Cloud, MN | $32,480 | $27,359 | $31,220 |
| 106 | Boston, MA | $36,040 | $29,556 | $27,300 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 202 metros →
About the job: cashiers
Receive and disburse money in establishments other than financial institutions. May use electronic scanners, cash registers, or related equipment. May process credit or debit card transactions and validate checks.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -6.5% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cashier salaries elsewhere in Massachusetts
- Barnstable Town, MA — $36,640
- Springfield, MA — $34,030
- Worcester, MA — $34,770
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cashier make in Boston, MA?
The median cashier salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $36,040 a year, or about $17.33 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,390 and $38,460.
What is a cashier’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $36,040 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $29,556 a year ($2,463 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,582 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a cashier?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $32,880. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,300 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #106 of 202 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cashier 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) — 92% of a median cashier’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Sales Engineer — $136,620
- First-Line Supervisor of Non-Retail Sales Workers — $122,870
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products — $122,550
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $101,200
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $83,420
- Insurance Sales Agent — $80,120
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $79,670
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $58,850
- Parts Salesperson — $46,370
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $45,510
- Retail Salesperson — $36,850