Nurse Practitioner Salary in Boston, MA
Nurse Practitioners in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $147,480 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $104,915 take-home, or $8,743 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median nurse practitioner salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$24,129
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,144
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,138
- Massachusetts income tax$7,154
- Take-home pay$104,915
Marginal rate: 24% 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 →
Nurse Practitioner pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $116,600 | $56.06 | $85,248 | $7,104 |
| 25th percentile | $134,350 | $64.59 | $96,597 | $8,050 |
| Median (50th) | $147,480 | $70.90 | $104,915 | $8,743 |
| 75th percentile | $172,040 | $82.71 | $120,473 | $10,039 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $212,490 | $102.16 | $147,721 | $12,310 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $147,480 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 nurse practitioner's $104,915 take-home pay has the buying power of $96,904 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Nurse Practitioner jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for nurse practitioners, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #17 of 24 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $219,080 | $143,890 | $124,458 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $134,560 | $103,238 | $104,673 |
| 3 | Cleveland, OH | $130,800 | $97,853 | $104,184 |
| 4 | Kansas City, MO | $130,760 | $95,432 | $103,122 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $163,340 | $114,312 | $101,554 |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH | $128,700 | $96,476 | $101,159 |
| 7 | Indianapolis, IN | $130,460 | $96,616 | $100,962 |
| 8 | St. Louis, MO | $131,580 | $95,954 | $100,911 |
| 17 | Boston, MA | $147,480 | $104,915 | $96,904 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 24 metros →
About the job: nurse practitioners
Diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team. May focus on health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform, or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and x rays. May prescribe medication. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +41.0% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nurse practitioner make in Boston, MA?
The median nurse practitioner salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $147,480 a year, or about $70.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $134,350 and $172,040.
What is a nurse practitioner’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $147,480 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $104,915 a year ($8,743 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,154 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a nurse practitioner?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $132,300. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $96,904 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #17 of 24 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a nurse practitioner 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) — 26% of a median nurse practitioner’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $229,870
- Physician Assistant — $142,410
- Pharmacist — $139,660
- Registered Nurse — $106,180
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $104,590
- Physical Therapist — $103,550
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $102,810
- Dental Hygienist — $101,990
- Occupational Therapist — $101,940
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $82,190
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $79,480