Nursing Assistant Salary in Boston, MA
Nursing Assistants in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $47,590 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,259 take-home, or $3,188 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median nursing assistant salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,531
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,951
- Medicare (1.45%)$690
- Massachusetts income tax$2,160
- Take-home pay$38,259
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 →
Nursing Assistant pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,190 | $19.32 | $32,683 | $2,724 |
| 25th percentile | $44,940 | $21.61 | $36,262 | $3,022 |
| Median (50th) | $47,590 | $22.88 | $38,259 | $3,188 |
| 75th percentile | $50,060 | $24.07 | $40,120 | $3,343 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,450 | $28.58 | $47,196 | $3,933 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,590 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 nursing assistant's $38,259 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,338 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Nursing Assistant jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for nursing assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #53 of 113 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $56,840 | $45,652 | $41,343 |
| 2 | Spokane, WA | $47,240 | $40,137 | $39,999 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $43,940 | $36,468 | $39,768 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $51,990 | $43,954 | $39,551 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $56,080 | $45,097 | $39,007 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $45,690 | $37,663 | $38,853 |
| 7 | Scranton, PA | $43,980 | $36,168 | $38,659 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $45,350 | $38,619 | $38,536 |
| 53 | Boston, MA | $47,590 | $38,259 | $35,338 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 113 metros →
About the job: nursing assistants
Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.6% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Nursing Assistant salaries elsewhere in Massachusetts
- Springfield, MA — $44,740
- Worcester, MA — $45,710
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nursing assistant make in Boston, MA?
The median nursing assistant salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $47,590 a year, or about $22.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,940 and $50,060.
What is a nursing assistant’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $47,590 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $38,259 a year ($3,188 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,160 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a nursing assistant?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $42,260. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,338 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #53 of 113 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a nursing assistant 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) — 71% of a median nursing assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Dental Assistant — $58,160
- Medical Assistant — $50,740
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $40,910