Data Scientist Salary in Boston, MA
Data Scientists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $132,040 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $95,133 take-home, or $7,928 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median data scientist salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,424
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,186
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,915
- Massachusetts income tax$6,382
- Take-home pay$95,133
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.
Data Scientist pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,030 | $39.44 | $62,657 | $5,221 |
| 25th percentile | $102,720 | $49.38 | $76,178 | $6,348 |
| Median (50th) | $132,040 | $63.48 | $95,133 | $7,928 |
| 75th percentile | $166,120 | $79.87 | $116,723 | $9,727 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $206,220 | $99.14 | $143,417 | $11,951 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $132,040 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 data scientist's $95,133 take-home pay has the buying power of $87,870 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 1.7× the national concentration of data scientist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for data scientists, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #18 of 72 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $164,740 | $123,866 | $111,457 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $185,080 | $122,415 | $110,860 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $127,360 | $98,317 | $100,256 |
| 4 | Charlotte, NC | $132,460 | $97,026 | $99,669 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $170,110 | $113,734 | $98,375 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $127,750 | $98,583 | $95,628 |
| 7 | Jacksonville, FL | $122,680 | $95,118 | $95,611 |
| 8 | Bridgeport, CT | $141,760 | $101,803 | $95,264 |
| 18 | Boston, MA | $132,040 | $95,133 | $87,870 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 72 metros →
Data Scientist salaries elsewhere in Massachusetts
- Worcester, MA — $123,640
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make in Boston, MA?
The median data scientist salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $132,040 a year, or about $63.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $102,720 and $166,120.
What is a data scientist’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $132,040 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $95,133 a year ($7,928 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,382 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a data scientist?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $120,230. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $87,870 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #18 of 72 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a data scientist 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 data scientist’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
- Computer Systems Analyst — $129,180
- Computer Programmer — $128,900
- 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