High paying entry level jobs in Massachusetts

These occupations in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts run 5.8% above the national average (2024), so a Massachusetts salary is worth about 0.95× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Massachusetts.

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

Find high paying jobs in Massachusetts

OccupationMedian, Massachusetts · Employed

1Dentists, General$181,600
Doctoral or professional degree
$101,470 – $417,6702,780
2Lawyers$176,680
Doctoral or professional degree
$82,100 – $374,41023,560
3Computer and Information Research Scientists$170,510
Master's degree
$77,160 – $233,3401,760
4Computer Hardware Engineers$167,600
Bachelor's degree
$118,490 – $258,8803,150
5Software Developers$165,210
Bachelor's degree
$102,810 – $213,97048,190
6Nurse Practitioners$142,440
Master's degree
$111,950 – $207,7108,070
7Physician Assistants$142,410
Master's degree
$65,220 – $204,1404,470
8Veterinarians$140,260
Doctoral or professional degree
$96,320 – $260,0101,920
9Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$138,230
Bachelor's degree
$95,090 – $215,2905,910
10Pharmacists$138,170
Doctoral or professional degree
$113,710 – $164,5007,230
11Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$134,850
Doctoral or professional degree
$80,700 – $275,3402,610
12Data Scientists$131,750
Bachelor's degree
$81,030 – $206,2209,420
13Biochemists and Biophysicists$131,600
Doctoral or professional degree
$79,560 – $208,13014,890
14Engineers, All Other$131,260
Bachelor's degree
$83,740 – $187,0102,850
15Financial Risk Specialists$130,400
Bachelor's degree
$71,390 – $209,2001,440
16Database Administrators$129,300
Bachelor's degree
$69,380 – $173,2102,310
17Computer Programmers$128,390
Bachelor's degree
$77,060 – $168,3101,930
18Computer Systems Analysts$128,240
Bachelor's degree
$80,000 – $171,65022,160
19Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$128,210
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,790 – $208,49017,100
20Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$128,030
Doctoral or professional degree
$66,120 – $208,7001,490
21Electrical Engineers$127,720
Bachelor's degree
$78,140 – $176,4705,040
22Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers$127,570
Bachelor's degree
$76,750 – $194,7604,740
23Chemists$125,000
Bachelor's degree
$71,120 – $212,2103,430
24Microbiologists$122,350
Bachelor's degree
$75,990 – $162,7601,960
25Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$122,210
Bachelor's degree
$68,050 – $168,0006,640
26Mechanical Engineers$119,300
Bachelor's degree
$79,570 – $166,4807,680
27Chemical Engineers$118,000
Bachelor's degree
$67,810 – $172,1701,460
28Environmental Engineers$115,800
Bachelor's degree
$77,150 – $172,9201,880
29Project Management Specialists$114,190
Bachelor's degree
$72,800 – $174,84021,960
30Materials Engineers$114,100
Bachelor's degree
$77,980 – $167,1801,360
31Web and Digital Interface Designers$113,540
Bachelor's degree
$71,110 – $178,0502,740
32Financial and Investment Analysts$111,040
Bachelor's degree
$77,940 – $205,32014,790
33Network and Computer Systems Administrators$110,980
Bachelor's degree
$76,750 – $168,9108,270
34Computer Occupations, All Other$109,590
Bachelor's degree
$55,740 – $183,4606,170
35Industrial Engineers$109,420
Bachelor's degree
$81,960 – $161,87011,470
36Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$107,480
Associate's degree
$89,190 – $133,4802,190
37Biological Scientists, All Other$107,100
Bachelor's degree
$69,500 – $194,0502,930
38Civil Engineers$106,730
Bachelor's degree
$78,280 – $165,5909,450
39Physicists$106,410
Doctoral or professional degree
$82,050 – $213,1501,150
40Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$105,050
Doctoral or professional degree
$64,180 – $296,4402,060
41Registered Nurses$104,550
Bachelor's degree
$80,310 – $174,51088,200
42Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$103,970
Bachelor's degree
$68,490 – $153,7703,390
43Physical Therapists$103,790
Doctoral or professional degree
$82,760 – $130,2206,850
44Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$103,620
Associate's degree
$75,350 – $131,9405,500
45Business Teachers, Postsecondary$103,110
Doctoral or professional degree
$59,760 – $238,9004,190
46Respiratory Therapists$102,170
Associate's degree
$80,330 – $123,9302,220
47Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$101,810
Bachelor's degree
$58,090 – $166,97039,710
48Commercial and Industrial Designers$101,720
Bachelor's degree
$76,010 – $149,9901,240
49Occupational Therapists$100,930
Master's degree
$73,140 – $127,3806,510
50Dental Hygienists$100,640
Associate's degree
$93,510 – $117,3806,850

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

#	Occupation	MedianMassachusetts	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$181,600	$101,470 – $417,670	2,780
2	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$176,680	$82,100 – $374,410	23,560
3	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$170,510	$77,160 – $233,340	1,760
4	Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree	$167,600	$118,490 – $258,880	3,150
5	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$165,210	$102,810 – $213,970	48,190
6	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$142,440	$111,950 – $207,710	8,070
7	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$142,410	$65,220 – $204,140	4,470
8	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$140,260	$96,320 – $260,010	1,920
9	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$138,230	$95,090 – $215,290	5,910
10	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$138,170	$113,710 – $164,500	7,230
11	Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$134,850	$80,700 – $275,340	2,610
12	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$131,750	$81,030 – $206,220	9,420
13	Biochemists and BiophysicistsDoctoral or professional degree	$131,600	$79,560 – $208,130	14,890
14	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$131,260	$83,740 – $187,010	2,850
15	Financial Risk SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$130,400	$71,390 – $209,200	1,440
16	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$129,300	$69,380 – $173,210	2,310
17	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$128,390	$77,060 – $168,310	1,930
18	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$128,240	$80,000 – $171,650	22,160
19	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$128,210	$77,790 – $208,490	17,100
20	Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$128,030	$66,120 – $208,700	1,490
21	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$127,720	$78,140 – $176,470	5,040
22	Bioengineers and Biomedical EngineersBachelor's degree	$127,570	$76,750 – $194,760	4,740
23	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$125,000	$71,120 – $212,210	3,430
24	MicrobiologistsBachelor's degree	$122,350	$75,990 – $162,760	1,960
25	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$122,210	$68,050 – $168,000	6,640
26	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$119,300	$79,570 – $166,480	7,680
27	Chemical EngineersBachelor's degree	$118,000	$67,810 – $172,170	1,460
28	Environmental EngineersBachelor's degree	$115,800	$77,150 – $172,920	1,880
29	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$114,190	$72,800 – $174,840	21,960
30	Materials EngineersBachelor's degree	$114,100	$77,980 – $167,180	1,360
31	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$113,540	$71,110 – $178,050	2,740
32	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$111,040	$77,940 – $205,320	14,790
33	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$110,980	$76,750 – $168,910	8,270
34	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$109,590	$55,740 – $183,460	6,170
35	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$109,420	$81,960 – $161,870	11,470
36	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$107,480	$89,190 – $133,480	2,190
37	Biological Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$107,100	$69,500 – $194,050	2,930
38	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$106,730	$78,280 – $165,590	9,450
39	PhysicistsDoctoral or professional degree	$106,410	$82,050 – $213,150	1,150
40	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$105,050	$64,180 – $296,440	2,060
41	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$104,550	$80,310 – $174,510	88,200
42	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$103,970	$68,490 – $153,770	3,390
43	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$103,790	$82,760 – $130,220	6,850
44	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$103,620	$75,350 – $131,940	5,500
45	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$103,110	$59,760 – $238,900	4,190
46	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$102,170	$80,330 – $123,930	2,220
47	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$101,810	$58,090 – $166,970	39,710
48	Commercial and Industrial DesignersBachelor's degree	$101,720	$76,010 – $149,990	1,240
49	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$100,930	$73,140 – $127,380	6,510
50	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$100,640	$93,510 – $117,380	6,850

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Massachusetts. 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.

More for Massachusetts

Metro areas in Massachusetts

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Massachusetts

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Massachusetts to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Massachusetts

More for Massachusetts

Metro areas in Massachusetts

By field in Massachusetts

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state