Jobs that actually got a raise in Massachusetts

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

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 · Real change since 2019

1Medical Equipment Repairers$78,230
Associate's degree
$48,860 – $100,490+38.8%+74.8% nominal
2Labor Relations Specialists$111,260
Bachelor's degree
$61,530 – $161,860+31.0%+64.9% nominal
3Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$58,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,960 – $81,640+29.0%+62.5% nominal
4Art Directors$149,320
Bachelor's degree
$78,470 – $218,270+29.0%+62.4% nominal
5Microbiologists$122,350
Bachelor's degree
$75,990 – $162,760+28.5%+61.8% nominal
6Child, Family, and School Social Workers$75,570
Bachelor's degree
$48,140 – $104,060+28.2%+61.5% nominal
7Natural Sciences Managers$267,290
Bachelor's degree
$153,490 – $329,820+27.3%+60.3% nominal
8Transportation Security Screeners$73,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,030 – $83,740+27.0%+59.9% nominal
9Marketing Managers$212,020
Bachelor's degree
$122,350 – $310,510+25.7%+58.3% nominal
10Brickmasons and Blockmasons$94,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,940 – $136,860+22.2%+53.8% nominal
11Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$50,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,630 – $72,520+21.6%+53.1% nominal
12Residential Advisors$48,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,850 – $65,980+21.0%+52.4% nominal
13Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$94,480
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,380 – $208,240+20.3%+51.5% nominal
14Financial Managers$206,760
Bachelor's degree
$120,850 – $332,490+20.2%+51.4% nominal
15Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$101,810
Bachelor's degree
$58,090 – $166,970+19.7%+50.8% nominal
16Computer and Information Research Scientists$170,510
Master's degree
$77,160 – $233,340+19.5%+50.5% nominal
17Social and Human Service Assistants$47,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,440 – $63,670+18.1%+48.8% nominal
18Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$62,500
Master's degree
$48,260 – $100,670+17.6%+48.1% nominal
19Cooks, Short Order$44,290
No formal educational credential
$32,550 – $53,780+16.9%+47.2% nominal
20Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$94,590
Bachelor's degree
$61,160 – $114,660+16.5%+46.7% nominal
21Driver/Sales Workers$46,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,890 – $67,140+15.9%+46.0% nominal
22Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$100,310
Bachelor's degree
$50,540 – $219,190+15.2%+45.1% nominal
23Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,870 – $63,710+15.0%+44.8% nominal
24Sales Managers$191,200
Bachelor's degree
$100,510 – $321,000+14.9%+44.6% nominal
25Surgical Technologists$80,870
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,350 – $109,550+14.8%+44.5% nominal
26Loan Officers$101,600
Bachelor's degree
$64,680 – $198,220+14.4%+44.1% nominal
27Computer and Information Systems Managers$214,960
Bachelor's degree
$134,390 – $308,250+14.3%+44.0% nominal
28Food Service Managers$92,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,290 – $129,990+14.1%+43.7% nominal
29Human Resources Managers$181,780
Bachelor's degree
$99,990 – $315,700+14.0%+43.5% nominal
30Advertising Sales Agents$80,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,130 – $134,820+13.9%+43.4% nominal
31Surveyors$94,590
Bachelor's degree
$57,880 – $129,410+13.2%+42.5% nominal
32Sales Engineers$136,200
Bachelor's degree
$77,490 – $177,100+13.0%+42.3% nominal
33Crossing Guards and Flaggers$43,460
No formal educational credential
$34,770 – $92,660+12.9%+42.2% nominal
34Roofers$72,750
No formal educational credential
$50,790 – $106,290+12.4%+41.5% nominal
35Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$44,920
No formal educational credential
$36,470 – $58,270+11.9%+40.9% nominal
36Cooks, Restaurant$45,600
No formal educational credential
$36,540 – $58,590+11.9%+40.9% nominal
37Family Medicine Physicians$277,490
Doctoral or professional degree
$107,650 – $384,390+11.6%+40.5% nominal
38Sewing Machine Operators$42,910
No formal educational credential
$35,580 – $53,990+11.4%+40.3% nominal
39Chemists$125,000
Bachelor's degree
$71,120 – $212,210+11.2%+40.0% nominal
40Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$103,620
Associate's degree
$75,350 – $131,940+11.1%+39.9% nominal
41Education Administrators, Postsecondary$128,970
Master's degree
$79,040 – $228,410+11.0%+39.7% nominal
42Tellers$46,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,380 – $55,730+10.9%+39.6% nominal
43Structural Iron and Steel Workers$120,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$82,760 – $128,080+10.8%+39.6% nominal
44Respiratory Therapists$102,170
Associate's degree
$80,330 – $123,930+10.7%+39.4% nominal
45Childcare Workers$40,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,130 – $49,790+10.7%+39.4% nominal
46Baggage Porters and Bellhops$41,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,150 – $57,150+10.4%+39.0% nominal
47Information Security Analysts$136,550
Bachelor's degree
$85,790 – $226,190+10.2%+38.8% nominal
48Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$75,740
Bachelor's degree
$48,960 – $133,980+10.0%+38.6% nominal
49Construction Managers$145,010
Bachelor's degree
$104,100 – $216,920+9.9%+38.3% nominal
50Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$128,210
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,790 – $208,490+9.6%+38.0% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$78,230	$48,860 – $100,490	+38.8%+74.8% nominal
2	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$111,260	$61,530 – $161,860	+31.0%+64.9% nominal
3	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,340	$38,960 – $81,640	+29.0%+62.5% nominal
4	Art DirectorsBachelor's degree	$149,320	$78,470 – $218,270	+29.0%+62.4% nominal
5	MicrobiologistsBachelor's degree	$122,350	$75,990 – $162,760	+28.5%+61.8% nominal
6	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$75,570	$48,140 – $104,060	+28.2%+61.5% nominal
7	Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree	$267,290	$153,490 – $329,820	+27.3%+60.3% nominal
8	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,510	$62,030 – $83,740	+27.0%+59.9% nominal
9	Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree	$212,020	$122,350 – $310,510	+25.7%+58.3% nominal
10	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,950	$59,940 – $136,860	+22.2%+53.8% nominal
11	Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,550	$37,630 – $72,520	+21.6%+53.1% nominal
12	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,190	$37,850 – $65,980	+21.0%+52.4% nominal
13	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$94,480	$62,380 – $208,240	+20.3%+51.5% nominal
14	Financial ManagersBachelor's degree	$206,760	$120,850 – $332,490	+20.2%+51.4% nominal
15	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$101,810	$58,090 – $166,970	+19.7%+50.8% nominal
16	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$170,510	$77,160 – $233,340	+19.5%+50.5% nominal
17	Social and Human Service AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,130	$39,440 – $63,670	+18.1%+48.8% nominal
18	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$62,500	$48,260 – $100,670	+17.6%+48.1% nominal
19	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$44,290	$32,550 – $53,780	+16.9%+47.2% nominal
20	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$94,590	$61,160 – $114,660	+16.5%+46.7% nominal
21	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,870	$33,890 – $67,140	+15.9%+46.0% nominal
22	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$100,310	$50,540 – $219,190	+15.2%+45.1% nominal
23	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,230	$37,870 – $63,710	+15.0%+44.8% nominal
24	Sales ManagersBachelor's degree	$191,200	$100,510 – $321,000	+14.9%+44.6% nominal
25	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,870	$60,350 – $109,550	+14.8%+44.5% nominal
26	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$101,600	$64,680 – $198,220	+14.4%+44.1% nominal
27	Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree	$214,960	$134,390 – $308,250	+14.3%+44.0% nominal
28	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,240	$58,290 – $129,990	+14.1%+43.7% nominal
29	Human Resources ManagersBachelor's degree	$181,780	$99,990 – $315,700	+14.0%+43.5% nominal
30	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,500	$45,130 – $134,820	+13.9%+43.4% nominal
31	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$94,590	$57,880 – $129,410	+13.2%+42.5% nominal
32	Sales EngineersBachelor's degree	$136,200	$77,490 – $177,100	+13.0%+42.3% nominal
33	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$43,460	$34,770 – $92,660	+12.9%+42.2% nominal
34	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$72,750	$50,790 – $106,290	+12.4%+41.5% nominal
35	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$44,920	$36,470 – $58,270	+11.9%+40.9% nominal
36	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$45,600	$36,540 – $58,590	+11.9%+40.9% nominal
37	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$277,490	$107,650 – $384,390	+11.6%+40.5% nominal
38	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$42,910	$35,580 – $53,990	+11.4%+40.3% nominal
39	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$125,000	$71,120 – $212,210	+11.2%+40.0% nominal
40	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$103,620	$75,350 – $131,940	+11.1%+39.9% nominal
41	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$128,970	$79,040 – $228,410	+11.0%+39.7% nominal
42	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,900	$38,380 – $55,730	+10.9%+39.6% nominal
43	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$120,840	$82,760 – $128,080	+10.8%+39.6% nominal
44	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$102,170	$80,330 – $123,930	+10.7%+39.4% nominal
45	Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,900	$34,130 – $49,790	+10.7%+39.4% nominal
46	Baggage Porters and BellhopsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,040	$34,150 – $57,150	+10.4%+39.0% nominal
47	Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree	$136,550	$85,790 – $226,190	+10.2%+38.8% nominal
48	Meeting, Convention, and Event PlannersBachelor's degree	$75,740	$48,960 – $133,980	+10.0%+38.6% nominal
49	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$145,010	$104,100 – $216,920	+9.9%+38.3% nominal
50	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$128,210	$77,790 – $208,490	+9.6%+38.0% nominal

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.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Massachusetts

More for Massachusetts

Metro areas in Massachusetts

By field in Massachusetts

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state