Computer Programmer Salary in Boston, MA
Computer Programmers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $128,900 a year — 28% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $93,144 take-home, or $7,762 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer programmer salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,670
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,992
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,869
- Massachusetts income tax$6,225
- Take-home pay$93,144
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.
Computer Programmer pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,940 | $37.95 | $60,637 | $5,053 |
| 25th percentile | $102,290 | $49.18 | $75,897 | $6,325 |
| Median (50th) | $128,900 | $61.97 | $93,144 | $7,762 |
| 75th percentile | $142,650 | $68.58 | $101,855 | $8,488 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,320 | $80.92 | $118,117 | $9,843 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $128,900 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 computer programmer's $93,144 take-home pay has the buying power of $86,033 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Computer Programmer jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.00).
Best-paying cities for computer programmers, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #4 of 34 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville, AR | $136,880 | $99,698 | $109,135 |
| 2 | Hartford, CT | $141,920 | $101,903 | $99,180 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $154,920 | $104,962 | $95,054 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $128,900 | $93,144 | $86,033 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $130,390 | $92,273 | $84,744 |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | $134,130 | $92,956 | $83,080 |
| 7 | Kansas City, MO | $101,830 | $76,619 | $82,793 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $118,000 | $85,342 | $81,416 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 34 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer programmer make in Boston, MA?
The median computer programmer salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $128,900 a year, or about $61.97 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $102,290 and $142,650.
What is a computer programmer’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $128,900 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $93,144 a year ($7,762 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,225 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a computer programmer?
Pay here is 28% above the national median of $100,390. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $86,033 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #4 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer programmer 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) — 29% of a median computer programmer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Computer and Information Research Scientist — $170,510
- Software Developer — $166,090
- Database Architect — $161,650
- Computer Network Architect — $160,650
- Information Security Analyst — $136,550
- Database Administrator — $132,370
- Data Scientist — $132,040
- Computer Systems Analyst — $129,180
- Web and Digital Interface Designer — $122,270
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $122,210
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $121,230
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $116,770