High paying entry level jobs in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

These occupations in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH run 8.3% above the national average (2024), so a Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH salary is worth about 0.92× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

OccupationMedian, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH · Employed

1Lawyers$183,350
Doctoral or professional degree
$84,280 – $379,35020,080
2Dentists, General$181,150
Doctoral or professional degree
$95,550 – $370,5801,920
3Computer and Information Research Scientists$170,510
Master's degree
$77,160 – $249,9101,620
4Computer Hardware Engineers$167,600
Bachelor's degree
$110,730 – $260,4602,840
5Software Developers$166,090
Bachelor's degree
$102,950 – $214,10042,310
6Aerospace Engineers$149,470
Bachelor's degree
$89,750 – $217,840960
7Nurse Practitioners$147,480
Master's degree
$116,600 – $212,4905,990
8Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$142,920
Bachelor's degree
$95,540 – $215,2905,460
9Physician Assistants$142,410
Master's degree
$65,220 – $205,6203,550
10Pharmacists$139,660
Doctoral or professional degree
$127,550 – $168,3905,280
11Veterinarians$138,900
Doctoral or professional degree
$83,230 – $281,1001,540
12Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$135,480
Doctoral or professional degree
$80,720 – $275,3402,010
13Engineers, All Other$133,940
Bachelor's degree
$86,120 – $194,3102,490
14Financial Risk Specialists$132,580
Bachelor's degree
$77,940 – $213,3201,120
15Database Administrators$132,370
Bachelor's degree
$72,510 – $176,5701,910
16Data Scientists$132,040
Bachelor's degree
$82,030 – $206,2207,930
17Biochemists and Biophysicists$131,550
Doctoral or professional degree
$79,360 – $208,71013,370
18Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$129,500
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,770 – $209,52016,060
19Computer Systems Analysts$129,180
Bachelor's degree
$83,190 – $172,94017,470
20Computer Programmers$128,900
Bachelor's degree
$78,940 – $168,3201,600
21Electrical Engineers$128,610
Bachelor's degree
$78,800 – $176,4704,030
22Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers$128,550
Bachelor's degree
$75,930 – $194,7904,040
23Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$128,070
Doctoral or professional degree
$64,710 – $296,6901,380
24Chemists$127,290
Bachelor's degree
$71,120 – $212,2202,960
25Microbiologists$122,350
Bachelor's degree
$75,990 – $163,7901,810
26Web and Digital Interface Designers$122,270
Bachelor's degree
$72,860 – $178,2502,330
27Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$122,210
Bachelor's degree
$68,050 – $168,0306,050
28Computer Occupations, All Other$121,230
Bachelor's degree
$61,840 – $195,1904,800
29Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$119,810
Doctoral or professional degree
$66,120 – $218,1901,060
30Mechanical Engineers$119,300
Bachelor's degree
$80,280 – $166,9006,890
31Industrial Engineers$118,970
Bachelor's degree
$82,600 – $163,0109,010
32Financial and Investment Analysts$117,520
Bachelor's degree
$79,030 – $207,01013,010
33Network and Computer Systems Administrators$116,770
Bachelor's degree
$79,730 – $169,5306,760
34Project Management Specialists$114,990
Bachelor's degree
$72,800 – $174,74018,840
35Materials Engineers$111,480
Bachelor's degree
$77,980 – $170,7701,020
36Biological Scientists, All Other$110,410
Bachelor's degree
$71,510 – $186,4102,630
37Environmental Engineers$109,620
Bachelor's degree
$77,150 – $162,2201,460
38Chemical Engineers$109,460
Bachelor's degree
$67,810 – $176,120910
39Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$109,200
Associate's degree
$98,660 – $135,8101,590
40Web Developers$108,520
Bachelor's degree
$62,870 – $169,5201,450
41Civil Engineers$107,670
Bachelor's degree
$79,580 – $167,3607,970
42Registered Nurses$106,180
Bachelor's degree
$81,880 – $188,67064,240
43Physicists$106,000
Doctoral or professional degree
$82,050 – $213,1501,060
44Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$105,960
Bachelor's degree
$70,200 – $158,0002,720
45Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$104,590
Associate's degree
$78,650 – $133,3004,100
46Respiratory Therapists$104,580
Associate's degree
$82,620 – $125,1201,560
47Physical Therapists$103,550
Doctoral or professional degree
$81,220 – $130,2205,330
48Urban and Regional Planners$103,460
Master's degree
$78,330 – $136,7601,100
49Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$103,340
Doctoral or professional degree
$64,220 – $287,6701,120
50Business Teachers, Postsecondary$103,110
Doctoral or professional degree
$59,000 – $295,5003,250

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianBoston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$183,350	$84,280 – $379,350	20,080
2	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$181,150	$95,550 – $370,580	1,920
3	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$170,510	$77,160 – $249,910	1,620
4	Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree	$167,600	$110,730 – $260,460	2,840
5	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$166,090	$102,950 – $214,100	42,310
6	Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree	$149,470	$89,750 – $217,840	960
7	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$147,480	$116,600 – $212,490	5,990
8	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$142,920	$95,540 – $215,290	5,460
9	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$142,410	$65,220 – $205,620	3,550
10	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$139,660	$127,550 – $168,390	5,280
11	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$138,900	$83,230 – $281,100	1,540
12	Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$135,480	$80,720 – $275,340	2,010
13	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$133,940	$86,120 – $194,310	2,490
14	Financial Risk SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$132,580	$77,940 – $213,320	1,120
15	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$132,370	$72,510 – $176,570	1,910
16	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$132,040	$82,030 – $206,220	7,930
17	Biochemists and BiophysicistsDoctoral or professional degree	$131,550	$79,360 – $208,710	13,370
18	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$129,500	$77,770 – $209,520	16,060
19	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$129,180	$83,190 – $172,940	17,470
20	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$128,900	$78,940 – $168,320	1,600
21	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$128,610	$78,800 – $176,470	4,030
22	Bioengineers and Biomedical EngineersBachelor's degree	$128,550	$75,930 – $194,790	4,040
23	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$128,070	$64,710 – $296,690	1,380
24	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$127,290	$71,120 – $212,220	2,960
25	MicrobiologistsBachelor's degree	$122,350	$75,990 – $163,790	1,810
26	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$122,270	$72,860 – $178,250	2,330
27	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$122,210	$68,050 – $168,030	6,050
28	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$121,230	$61,840 – $195,190	4,800
29	Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$119,810	$66,120 – $218,190	1,060
30	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$119,300	$80,280 – $166,900	6,890
31	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$118,970	$82,600 – $163,010	9,010
32	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$117,520	$79,030 – $207,010	13,010
33	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$116,770	$79,730 – $169,530	6,760
34	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$114,990	$72,800 – $174,740	18,840
35	Materials EngineersBachelor's degree	$111,480	$77,980 – $170,770	1,020
36	Biological Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$110,410	$71,510 – $186,410	2,630
37	Environmental EngineersBachelor's degree	$109,620	$77,150 – $162,220	1,460
38	Chemical EngineersBachelor's degree	$109,460	$67,810 – $176,120	910
39	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$109,200	$98,660 – $135,810	1,590
40	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$108,520	$62,870 – $169,520	1,450
41	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$107,670	$79,580 – $167,360	7,970
42	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$106,180	$81,880 – $188,670	64,240
43	PhysicistsDoctoral or professional degree	$106,000	$82,050 – $213,150	1,060
44	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$105,960	$70,200 – $158,000	2,720
45	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$104,590	$78,650 – $133,300	4,100
46	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$104,580	$82,620 – $125,120	1,560
47	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$103,550	$81,220 – $130,220	5,330
48	Urban and Regional PlannersMaster's degree	$103,460	$78,330 – $136,760	1,100
49	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$103,340	$64,220 – $287,670	1,120
50	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$103,110	$59,000 – $295,500	3,250

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

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