Network and Computer Systems Administrator Salary in Boston, MA
Network and Computer Systems Administrators in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $116,770 a year — 18% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $85,359 take-home, or $7,113 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median network and computer systems administrator salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$16,859
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,240
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,693
- Massachusetts income tax$5,619
- Take-home pay$85,359
Marginal rate: 22% 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 →
Network and Computer Systems Administrator pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,730 | $38.33 | $61,154 | $5,096 |
| 25th percentile | $95,490 | $45.91 | $71,453 | $5,954 |
| Median (50th) | $116,770 | $56.14 | $85,359 | $7,113 |
| 75th percentile | $138,710 | $66.69 | $99,359 | $8,280 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $169,530 | $81.50 | $118,883 | $9,907 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $116,770 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 network and computer systems administrator's $85,359 take-home pay has the buying power of $78,842 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Boston, MA has 1.2× the national concentration of network and computer systems administrator jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for network and computer systems administrators, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #12 of 30 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore, MD | $122,950 | $89,785 | $85,929 |
| 2 | Columbus, OH | $105,750 | $81,099 | $84,948 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $104,520 | $82,360 | $83,984 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $133,360 | $92,511 | $83,779 |
| 5 | Cincinnati, OH | $101,530 | $78,247 | $82,045 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $125,430 | $89,304 | $82,018 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $101,430 | $80,186 | $81,301 |
| 8 | Tampa, FL | $101,560 | $80,277 | $79,569 |
| 12 | Boston, MA | $116,770 | $85,359 | $78,842 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 30 metros →
About the job: network and computer systems administrators
Install, configure, and maintain an organization’s local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), data communications network, operating systems, and physical and virtual servers. Perform system monitoring and verify the integrity and availability of hardware, network, and server resources and systems. Review system and application logs and verify completion of scheduled jobs, including system backups. Analyze network and server resource consumption and control user access. Install and upgrade software and maintain software licenses. May assist in network modeling, analysis, planning, and coordination between network and data communications hardware and software.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -4.1% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a network and computer systems administrator make in Boston, MA?
The median network and computer systems administrator salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $116,770 a year, or about $56.14 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $95,490 and $138,710.
What is a network and computer systems administrator’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $116,770 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $85,359 a year ($7,113 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,619 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a network and computer systems administrator?
Pay here is 18% above the national median of $99,130. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $78,842 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #12 of 30 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a network and computer systems administrator 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) — 32% of a median network and computer systems administrator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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