Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Salary in Boston, MA
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $105,960 a year — 18% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $78,295 take-home, or $6,525 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median occupational health and safety specialist salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,481
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,570
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,536
- Massachusetts income tax$5,078
- Take-home pay$78,295
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 →
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $70,200 | $33.75 | $54,926 | $4,577 |
| 25th percentile | $85,920 | $41.31 | $65,199 | $5,433 |
| Median (50th) | $105,960 | $50.94 | $78,295 | $6,525 |
| 75th percentile | $130,500 | $62.74 | $94,158 | $7,846 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $158,000 | $75.96 | $111,579 | $9,298 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $105,960 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 occupational health and safety specialist's $78,295 take-home pay has the buying power of $72,317 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for occupational health and safety specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #2 of 6 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $126,860 | $88,757 | $76,771 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $105,960 | $78,295 | $72,317 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $82,910 | $67,157 | $68,091 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $102,610 | $74,369 | $65,485 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $96,320 | $71,948 | $63,918 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $81,000 | $65,814 | $63,841 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 6 metros →
About the job: occupational health and safety specialists
Review, evaluate, and analyze work environments and design programs and procedures to control, eliminate, and prevent disease or injury caused by chemical, physical, and biological agents or ergonomic factors. May conduct inspections and enforce adherence to laws and regulations governing the health and safety of individuals. May be employed in the public or private sector.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +18.5% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a occupational health and safety specialist make in Boston, MA?
The median occupational health and safety specialist salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $105,960 a year, or about $50.94 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $85,920 and $130,500.
What is a occupational health and safety specialist’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $105,960 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $78,295 a year ($6,525 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,078 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a occupational health and safety specialist?
Pay here is 18% above the national median of $90,150. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $72,317 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #2 of 6 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a occupational health and safety specialist 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) — 35% of a median occupational health and safety specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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