Healthcare Social Worker Salary in Boston, MA
Healthcare Social Workers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $78,410 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,291 take-home, or $5,024 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median healthcare social worker salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,420
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,861
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,137
- Massachusetts income tax$3,701
- Take-home pay$60,291
Marginal rate: 22% 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 →
Healthcare Social Worker pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,140 | $26.99 | $44,701 | $3,725 |
| 25th percentile | $61,270 | $29.46 | $48,567 | $4,047 |
| Median (50th) | $78,410 | $37.70 | $60,291 | $5,024 |
| 75th percentile | $93,950 | $45.17 | $70,446 | $5,871 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,700 | $49.86 | $76,818 | $6,401 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,410 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 healthcare social worker's $60,291 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,688 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 1.5× the national concentration of healthcare social worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for healthcare social workers, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #6 of 13 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $99,640 | $72,594 | $62,791 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $83,550 | $67,607 | $60,835 |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | $75,930 | $62,247 | $60,381 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $71,900 | $59,412 | $60,238 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $75,720 | $58,866 | $56,338 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $78,410 | $60,291 | $55,688 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $71,430 | $55,690 | $53,757 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $78,610 | $60,484 | $53,734 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 13 metros →
About the job: healthcare social workers
Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family caregivers. Provide patients with information and counseling, and make referrals for other services. May also provide case and care management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +8.5% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a healthcare social worker make in Boston, MA?
The median healthcare social worker salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $78,410 a year, or about $37.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,270 and $93,950.
What is a healthcare social worker’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $78,410 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $60,291 a year ($5,024 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,701 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a healthcare social worker?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $67,880. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,688 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #6 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a healthcare social worker 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) — 45% of a median healthcare social worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $80,760
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $77,420
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker — $63,830
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $62,130
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $47,530
- Rehabilitation Counselor — $47,440