Counter and Rental Clerk Salary in Boston, MA
Counter and Rental Clerks in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $45,510 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,692 take-home, or $3,058 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median counter and rental clerk salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,281
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,822
- Medicare (1.45%)$660
- Massachusetts income tax$2,056
- Take-home pay$36,692
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 →
Counter and Rental Clerk pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,380 | $17.01 | $29,059 | $2,422 |
| 25th percentile | $39,010 | $18.75 | $31,794 | $2,650 |
| Median (50th) | $45,510 | $21.88 | $36,692 | $3,058 |
| 75th percentile | $54,430 | $26.17 | $43,413 | $3,618 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,560 | $31.52 | $51,799 | $4,317 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,510 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 counter and rental clerk's $36,692 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,890 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Counter and Rental Clerk jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.87).
Best-paying cities for counter and rental clerks, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #16 of 32 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond, VA | $46,520 | $37,698 | $38,523 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $49,350 | $41,833 | $37,642 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $46,900 | $38,509 | $36,404 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $45,310 | $37,196 | $36,269 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $44,760 | $37,234 | $36,039 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $48,570 | $39,611 | $35,872 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $48,010 | $39,041 | $35,856 |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $39,890 | $34,232 | $35,533 |
| 16 | Boston, MA | $45,510 | $36,692 | $33,890 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 32 metros →
About the job: counter and rental clerks
Receive orders, generally in person, for repairs, rentals, and services. May describe available options, compute cost, and accept payment.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.0% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a counter and rental clerk make in Boston, MA?
The median counter and rental clerk salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $45,510 a year, or about $21.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,010 and $54,430.
What is a counter and rental clerk’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $45,510 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $36,692 a year ($3,058 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,056 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a counter and rental clerk?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $41,300. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,890 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #16 of 32 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a counter and rental clerk 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) — 74% of a median counter and rental clerk’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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