Physicist Salary in Boston, MA
Physicists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $106,000 a year — 38% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $78,321 take-home, or $6,527 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median physicist salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,490
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,572
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,537
- Massachusetts income tax$5,080
- Take-home pay$78,321
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.
Physicist pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,050 | $39.45 | $62,670 | $5,222 |
| 25th percentile | $82,070 | $39.46 | $62,683 | $5,224 |
| Median (50th) | $106,000 | $50.96 | $78,321 | $6,527 |
| 75th percentile | $170,190 | $81.82 | $119,301 | $9,942 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,150 | $102.48 | $148,174 | $12,348 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $106,000 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 physicist's $78,321 take-home pay has the buying power of $72,341 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 3.0× the national concentration of physicist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for physicists, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #7 of 7 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $181,970 | $125,947 | $111,890 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $171,580 | $116,925 | $107,385 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $173,450 | $115,663 | $104,745 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $160,270 | $108,052 | $95,144 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $137,140 | $98,358 | $94,944 |
| 6 | Boulder, CO | $104,580 | $78,509 | $74,627 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $106,000 | $78,321 | $72,341 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 7 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physicist make in Boston, MA?
The median physicist salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $106,000 a year, or about $50.96 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $82,070 and $170,190.
What is a physicist’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $106,000 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $78,321 a year ($6,527 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,080 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a physicist?
Pay here is 38% below the national median of $172,250. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $72,341 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #7 of 7 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physicist 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 physicist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Materials Scientist — $132,600
- Biochemist and Biophysicist — $131,550
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $129,500
- Chemist — $127,290
- Microbiologist — $122,350
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist — $121,270
- Epidemiologist — $115,890
- Psychologists, All Other — $112,900
- Biological Scientists, All Other — $110,410
- Economist — $108,140
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $105,960
- Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other — $105,670