Retail Salesperson Salary in Boston, MA
Retail Salespersons in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $36,850 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,166 take-home, or $2,514 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median retail salesperson salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,242
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,285
- Medicare (1.45%)$534
- Massachusetts income tax$1,623
- Take-home pay$30,166
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 →
Retail Salesperson pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,000 | $16.35 | $28,019 | $2,335 |
| 25th percentile | $35,410 | $17.02 | $29,081 | $2,423 |
| Median (50th) | $36,850 | $17.72 | $30,166 | $2,514 |
| 75th percentile | $42,180 | $20.28 | $34,183 | $2,849 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,260 | $23.20 | $38,764 | $3,230 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,850 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 retail salesperson's $30,166 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,863 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Retail Salesperson jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for retail salespersons, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #190 of 237 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fargo, ND | $35,860 | $30,994 | $34,107 |
| 2 | St. Cloud, MN | $34,860 | $29,144 | $33,257 |
| 3 | Yakima, WA | $36,640 | $31,620 | $33,095 |
| 4 | Sioux Falls, SD | $34,600 | $29,981 | $33,080 |
| 5 | Rochester, MN | $36,000 | $29,999 | $33,030 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $44,220 | $36,378 | $32,944 |
| 7 | Duluth, MN | $34,650 | $28,986 | $32,654 |
| 8 | Rapid City, SD | $33,350 | $28,977 | $32,500 |
| 190 | Boston, MA | $36,850 | $30,166 | $27,863 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 237 metros →
About the job: retail salespersons
Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.3% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Retail Salesperson salaries elsewhere in Massachusetts
- Barnstable Town, MA — $36,790
- Springfield, MA — $35,440
- Worcester, MA — $36,220
Frequently asked questions
How much does a retail salesperson make in Boston, MA?
The median retail salesperson salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $36,850 a year, or about $17.72 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,410 and $42,180.
What is a retail salesperson’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $36,850 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $30,166 a year ($2,514 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,623 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a retail salesperson?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $35,410. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,863 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #190 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a retail salesperson 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) — 91% of a median retail salesperson’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
- Cashier — $36,040