Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Massachusetts

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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

1Physicists$106,410
Doctoral or professional degree
$82,050 – $213,150-39.8%-24.2% nominal
2Statisticians$96,710
Master's degree
$76,920 – $174,740-31.7%-14.0% nominal
3Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$76,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,610 – $106,400-27.8%-9.1% nominal
4Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$56,370
Bachelor's degree
$32,890 – $77,920-23.5%-3.6% nominal
5Health Education Specialists$57,510
Bachelor's degree
$37,460 – $142,860-23.1%-3.2% nominal
6Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$45,530 – $75,280-22.8%-2.8% nominal
7Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$85,820
Master's degree
$59,920 – $156,070-21.8%-1.5% nominal
8Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$37,290
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,600 – $79,330-21.4%-1.0% nominal
9Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$49,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,480 – $80,220-21.2%-0.7% nominal
10Education Administrators, All Other$86,540
Bachelor's degree
$63,640 – $165,710-19.9%+0.9% nominal
11Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$36,540
No formal educational credential
$33,090 – $50,720-19.7%+1.1% nominal
12Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$44,160 – $81,040-19.4%+1.5% nominal
13Pest Control Workers$45,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,750 – $62,170-19.2%+1.8% nominal
14Semiconductor Processing Technicians$51,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,870 – $72,750-17.6%+3.8% nominal
15Tax Preparers$58,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,560 – $82,700-17.4%+4.0% nominal
16Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary$82,930
Doctoral or professional degree
$59,350 – $138,250-17.3%+4.2% nominal
17Self-Enrichment Teachers$49,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,550 – $108,120-17.0%+4.5% nominal
18First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$104,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,110 – $159,680-17.0%+4.5% nominal
19Flight Attendants$61,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,730 – $99,390-16.7%+4.9% nominal
20Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$62,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,220 – $100,430-16.5%+5.2% nominal
21Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$85,130
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,200 – $138,240-16.4%+5.3% nominal
22Education Teachers, Postsecondary$79,980
Doctoral or professional degree
$49,990 – $137,750-15.5%+6.5% nominal
23Skincare Specialists$47,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,610 – $60,320-14.7%+7.4% nominal
24Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$52,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,390 – $72,180-14.6%+7.5% nominal
25Butchers and Meat Cutters$48,430
No formal educational credential
$38,370 – $62,120-14.6%+7.5% nominal
26Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$83,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,650 – $123,260-14.3%+8.0% nominal
27Dentists, General$181,600
Doctoral or professional degree
$101,470 – $417,670-14.2%+8.1% nominal
28Hazardous Materials Removal Workers$49,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,220 – $65,870-14.1%+8.2% nominal
29Business Teachers, Postsecondary$103,110
Doctoral or professional degree
$59,760 – $238,900-14.1%+8.1% nominal
30Library Technicians$50,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,450 – $64,980-14.0%+8.3% nominal
31Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$60,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,320 – $81,380-13.6%+8.8% nominal
32Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$36,570
No formal educational credential
$33,330 – $46,400-13.5%+8.9% nominal
33Orderlies$38,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,660 – $48,310-13.5%+8.9% nominal
34General and Operations Managers$127,220
Bachelor's degree
$60,700 – $314,780-13.1%+9.4% nominal
35Industrial Engineers$109,420
Bachelor's degree
$81,960 – $161,870-13.0%+9.6% nominal
36Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$62,390
Associate's degree
$53,200 – $95,460-12.9%+9.7% nominal
37Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$83,890
Bachelor's degree
$60,390 – $124,080-12.6%+10.0% nominal
38Budget Analysts$92,260
Bachelor's degree
$67,860 – $131,770-12.4%+10.3% nominal
39Insurance Sales Agents$79,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,620 – $163,380-12.3%+10.4% nominal
40Electrical Engineers$127,720
Bachelor's degree
$78,140 – $176,470-12.1%+10.7% nominal
41Computer Network Support Specialists$88,650
Associate's degree
$60,980 – $134,250-11.8%+11.1% nominal
42Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$78,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,160 – $108,150-11.7%+11.2% nominal
43English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$83,980
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,050 – $175,580-11.6%+11.3% nominal
44Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$84,100
Bachelor's degree
$58,900 – $106,600-11.4%+11.6% nominal
45Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$85,490
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,490 – $165,490-11.4%+11.5% nominal
46Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$43,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,360 – $58,430-11.2%+11.8% nominal
47Pharmacists$138,170
Doctoral or professional degree
$113,710 – $164,500-11.2%+11.9% nominal
48Dietitians and Nutritionists$76,660
Bachelor's degree
$63,310 – $107,150-11.1%+11.9% nominal
49Information and Record Clerks, All Other$47,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $67,890-10.8%+12.4% nominal
50Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$62,290
Bachelor's degree
$48,490 – $98,890-10.6%+12.6% 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	PhysicistsDoctoral or professional degree	$106,410	$82,050 – $213,150	-39.8%-24.2% nominal
2	StatisticiansMaster's degree	$96,710	$76,920 – $174,740	-31.7%-14.0% nominal
3	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,500	$39,610 – $106,400	-27.8%-9.1% nominal
4	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$56,370	$32,890 – $77,920	-23.5%-3.6% nominal
5	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$57,510	$37,460 – $142,860	-23.1%-3.2% nominal
6	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$45,530 – $75,280	-22.8%-2.8% nominal
7	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$85,820	$59,920 – $156,070	-21.8%-1.5% nominal
8	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$37,290	$31,600 – $79,330	-21.4%-1.0% nominal
9	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,750	$38,480 – $80,220	-21.2%-0.7% nominal
10	Education Administrators, All OtherBachelor's degree	$86,540	$63,640 – $165,710	-19.9%+0.9% nominal
11	Motor Vehicle Operators, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$36,540	$33,090 – $50,720	-19.7%+1.1% nominal
12	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$44,160 – $81,040	-19.4%+1.5% nominal
13	Pest Control WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,560	$36,750 – $62,170	-19.2%+1.8% nominal
14	Semiconductor Processing TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,410	$41,870 – $72,750	-17.6%+3.8% nominal
15	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,400	$37,560 – $82,700	-17.4%+4.0% nominal
16	Psychology Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$82,930	$59,350 – $138,250	-17.3%+4.2% nominal
17	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,430	$36,550 – $108,120	-17.0%+4.5% nominal
18	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,320	$77,110 – $159,680	-17.0%+4.5% nominal
19	Flight AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,510	$31,730 – $99,390	-16.7%+4.9% nominal
20	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,120	$42,220 – $100,430	-16.5%+5.2% nominal
21	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$85,130	$62,200 – $138,240	-16.4%+5.3% nominal
22	Education Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$79,980	$49,990 – $137,750	-15.5%+6.5% nominal
23	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,310	$36,610 – $60,320	-14.7%+7.4% nominal
24	Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,910	$44,390 – $72,180	-14.6%+7.5% nominal
25	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$48,430	$38,370 – $62,120	-14.6%+7.5% nominal
26	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,740	$58,650 – $123,260	-14.3%+8.0% nominal
27	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$181,600	$101,470 – $417,670	-14.2%+8.1% nominal
28	Hazardous Materials Removal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,620	$46,220 – $65,870	-14.1%+8.2% nominal
29	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$103,110	$59,760 – $238,900	-14.1%+8.1% nominal
30	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,430	$38,450 – $64,980	-14.0%+8.3% nominal
31	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,280	$41,320 – $81,380	-13.6%+8.8% nominal
32	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$36,570	$33,330 – $46,400	-13.5%+8.9% nominal
33	OrderliesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,970	$36,660 – $48,310	-13.5%+8.9% nominal
34	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$127,220	$60,700 – $314,780	-13.1%+9.4% nominal
35	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$109,420	$81,960 – $161,870	-13.0%+9.6% nominal
36	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,390	$53,200 – $95,460	-12.9%+9.7% nominal
37	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$83,890	$60,390 – $124,080	-12.6%+10.0% nominal
38	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$92,260	$67,860 – $131,770	-12.4%+10.3% nominal
39	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,300	$57,620 – $163,380	-12.3%+10.4% nominal
40	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$127,720	$78,140 – $176,470	-12.1%+10.7% nominal
41	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$88,650	$60,980 – $134,250	-11.8%+11.1% nominal
42	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,940	$61,160 – $108,150	-11.7%+11.2% nominal
43	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$83,980	$62,050 – $175,580	-11.6%+11.3% nominal
44	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$84,100	$58,900 – $106,600	-11.4%+11.6% nominal
45	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$85,490	$60,490 – $165,490	-11.4%+11.5% nominal
46	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,790	$35,360 – $58,430	-11.2%+11.8% nominal
47	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$138,170	$113,710 – $164,500	-11.2%+11.9% nominal
48	Dietitians and NutritionistsBachelor's degree	$76,660	$63,310 – $107,150	-11.1%+11.9% nominal
49	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,200	$31,200 – $67,890	-10.8%+12.4% nominal
50	Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language InstructorsBachelor's degree	$62,290	$48,490 – $98,890	-10.6%+12.6% 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 lost the most to inflation in Massachusetts

More for Massachusetts

Metro areas in Massachusetts

By field in Massachusetts

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state