Registered Nurse Salary in Boston, MA
Registered Nurses in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $106,180 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $78,439 take-home, or $6,537 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,530
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,583
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,540
- Massachusetts income tax$5,089
- Take-home pay$78,439
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.
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,880 | $39.37 | $62,559 | $5,213 |
| 25th percentile | $94,870 | $45.61 | $71,048 | $5,921 |
| Median (50th) | $106,180 | $51.05 | $78,439 | $6,537 |
| 75th percentile | $153,380 | $73.74 | $108,652 | $9,054 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $188,670 | $90.71 | $131,267 | $10,939 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $106,180 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 registered nurse's $78,439 take-home pay has the buying power of $72,450 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Registered Nurse jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #172 of 370 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
| 172 | Boston, MA | $106,180 | $78,439 | $72,450 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 370 metros →
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in Massachusetts
- Pittsfield, MA — $104,950
- Barnstable Town, MA — $103,380
- Springfield, MA — $98,410
- Amherst Town, MA — $101,270
- Worcester, MA — $100,240
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Boston, MA?
The median registered nurse salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $106,180 a year, or about $51.05 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $94,870 and $153,380.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $106,180 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $78,439 a year ($6,537 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,089 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 9% above the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $72,450 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #172 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse 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 registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Surgeons, All Other — $239,200+
- Emergency Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $239,200+
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist — $235,460
- Physicians, All Other — $229,870
- Pediatricians, General — $221,170
- Dentists, General — $181,150
- Optometrist — $154,970
- Nurse Practitioner — $147,480
- Physician Assistant — $142,410