Registered Nurses pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $81,880 a year or less, while the top 10% make $188,670 or more. The middle half of registered nurses in Boston earn between $94,870 and $153,380.
- $82K10th
- $95K25th
- $106KMedian
- $153K75th
- $189K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $121,820 | $10,152 | $58.57 |
| Median | $106,180 | $8,848 | $51.05 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $94,870 | $7,906 | $45.61 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $153,380 | $12,782 | $73.74 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Registered Nurses pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Registered nurses in Boston earn 3% more than the Massachusetts average ($117,960) and 20% more than the U.S. average ($101,420). At the median the gap is +9% against the U.S. median of $97,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $121,820 | $106,180 | $81,880 | $188,670 | 64,240 |
| Massachusetts | $117,960 | $104,550 | $80,310 | $174,510 | 88,200 |
| United States | $101,420 | $97,550 | $68,940 | $137,470 | 3,379,720 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Registered Nurses salary after taxes in Boston
On the average salary of $121,820, a single filer in Boston takes home about $88,759 a year, or $7,397 a month and $3,414 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $94,530 | $7,877 |
| Working in MA | $88,759 | $7,397 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for registered nurses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $121,820 buys what about $112,519 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Registered Nurses salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boston$121,820
- Worcester$113,910
- Barnstable$112,730
- Pittsfield$105,010
- Amherst$101,570
- Springfield$98,850
Highest-paying cities for registered nurses
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($194,950).
- San Jose, CA$194,950
- Vallejo, CA$182,820
- San Francisco, CA$176,900
- Santa Rosa, CA$170,000
- Sacramento, CA$164,200
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Registered Nurses salary in Boston: questions
How much do registered nurses make an hour in Boston?
$58.57 an hour on average, and $51.05 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level registered nurses salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $81,880 a year and the 25th percentile is $94,870, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the registered nurses take-home pay in Boston?
About $88,759 a year ($7,397 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $121,820. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do registered nurses earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% more than the U.S. average for this job ($101,420).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1141; area Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.09, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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