Social and Human Service Assistant Salary in Boston, MA
Social and Human Service Assistants in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $47,530 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,214 take-home, or $3,184 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median social and human service assistant salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,524
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,947
- Medicare (1.45%)$689
- Massachusetts income tax$2,157
- Take-home pay$38,214
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 →
Social and Human Service Assistant pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,780 | $19.13 | $32,374 | $2,698 |
| 25th percentile | $44,200 | $21.25 | $35,705 | $2,975 |
| Median (50th) | $47,530 | $22.85 | $38,214 | $3,184 |
| 75th percentile | $57,580 | $27.68 | $45,787 | $3,816 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,100 | $30.34 | $49,946 | $4,162 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,530 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 social and human service assistant's $38,214 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,296 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Social and Human Service Assistant jobs are less concentrated in Boston, MA than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for social and human service assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #28 of 34 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $58,090 | $48,855 | $43,961 |
| 2 | Austin, TX | $49,150 | $41,672 | $42,494 |
| 3 | Kansas City, MO | $45,860 | $37,810 | $40,857 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $53,810 | $43,439 | $40,723 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $46,550 | $38,239 | $39,959 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $57,580 | $46,193 | $39,955 |
| 7 | Syracuse, NY | $47,330 | $38,251 | $39,952 |
| 8 | Houston, TX | $46,100 | $39,221 | $39,767 |
| 28 | Boston, MA | $47,530 | $38,214 | $35,296 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 34 metros →
About the job: social and human service assistants
Assist other social and human service providers in providing client services in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, including support for families. May assist clients in identifying and obtaining available benefits and social and community services. May assist social workers with developing, organizing, and conducting programs to prevent and resolve problems relevant to substance abuse, human relationships, rehabilitation, or dependent care.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +7.4% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a social and human service assistant make in Boston, MA?
The median social and human service assistant salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $47,530 a year, or about $22.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,200 and $57,580.
What is a social and human service assistant’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $47,530 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $38,214 a year ($3,184 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,157 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a social and human service assistant?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $45,930. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,296 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #28 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a social and human service 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 social and human service assistant’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
- Healthcare Social Worker — $78,410
- 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
- Rehabilitation Counselor — $47,440