Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Amherst Town-Northampton, MA

Each occupation's median wage in Amherst Town-Northampton, MA compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Amherst Town-Northampton, MA pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Amherst Town-Northampton, MA run 0.2% above the national average (2024), so a Amherst Town-Northampton, MA salary is worth about 1.00× 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 Amherst Town-Northampton, MA

OccupationMedian, Amherst Town-Northampton, MA · vs. national

1Tutors$68,220
Some college, no degree
$32,090 – $120,550+57.4%
2Social Workers, All Other$110,990
Bachelor's degree
$74,150 – $128,340+54.4%
3Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$100,690
Bachelor's degree
$77,240 – $101,510+51.9%
4Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$139,390
Doctoral or professional degree
$81,440 – $214,970+43.7%
5Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$111,440
Doctoral or professional degree
$65,630 – $127,880+38.9%
6Coaches and Scouts$65,750
Bachelor's degree
$37,600 – $137,570+38.9%
7Personal Financial Advisors$145,190
Bachelor's degree
$57,300 – $354,780+38.2%
8Opticians, Dispensing$65,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,040 – $81,700+37.5%
9Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$84,730
Bachelor's degree
$60,760 – $94,990+30.1%
10Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$81,590
Bachelor's degree
$48,240 – $101,700+29.7%
11English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$101,500
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,920 – $177,060+28.9%
12Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$102,020
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,600 – $165,960+27.6%
13History Teachers, Postsecondary$106,840
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,940 – $170,940+27.5%
14Cost Estimators$100,410
Bachelor's degree
$50,270 – $168,070+27.5%
15Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$60,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,800 – $98,940+27.4%
16Loan Officers$96,540
Bachelor's degree
$61,370 – $205,200+25.9%
17Veterinarians$163,630
Doctoral or professional degree
$96,660 – $206,140+25.8%
18Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$80,750
Bachelor's degree
$52,630 – $96,950+25.4%
19Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$79,900
Bachelor's degree
$51,890 – $96,220+24.9%
20Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$61,800
No formal educational credential
$47,530 – $64,730+24.4%
21First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$60,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,360 – $79,040+24.2%
22Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$105,050
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,510 – $165,840+24.1%
23Construction Laborers$58,150
No formal educational credential
$38,930 – $96,140+23.4%
24Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary$98,920
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,210 – $178,010+23.2%
25Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$78,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,760 – $109,340+23.2%
26Insurance Sales Agents$76,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,780 – $129,410+23.1%
27Highway Maintenance Workers$61,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,320 – $79,860+22.4%
28Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$76,740
Bachelor's degree
$49,780 – $99,970+22.4%
29Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary$103,110
Doctoral or professional degree
$65,480 – $205,630+22.3%
30Cooks, Short Order$43,790
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $50,140+22.0%
31Electricians$76,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,830 – $98,440+21.8%
32Sheet Metal Workers$75,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,780 – $111,890+21.4%
33Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$47,510
No formal educational credential
$37,280 – $60,330+21.4%
34Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$78,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$66,270 – $86,380+21.2%
35Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary$97,110
Doctoral or professional degree
$59,260 – $142,920+20.9%
36Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$129,330
Doctoral or professional degree
$80,170 – $215,130+20.5%
37Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$73,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,150 – $92,230+20.3%
38Food Service Managers$83,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,540 – $145,050+19.8%
39Cooks, Restaurant$44,680
No formal educational credential
$35,720 – $56,370+19.5%
40Construction and Building Inspectors$89,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,680 – $114,780+19.2%
41Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$45,430
Associate's degree
$36,370 – $83,400+19.1%
42Dentists, General$202,240
Doctoral or professional degree
$108,970 – $347,300+18.3%
43Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$56,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,230 – $84,300+16.9%
44First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$56,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,030 – $79,910+16.7%
45Tree Trimmers and Pruners$59,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,420 – $77,960+16.5%
46Home Health and Personal Care Aides$41,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,470 – $47,560+16.5%
47Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$58,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,060 – $87,420+16.5%
48Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary$108,520
Doctoral or professional degree
$67,710 – $214,300+16.4%
49Public Safety Telecommunicators$61,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,470 – $86,830+16.4%
50Butchers and Meat Cutters$46,670
No formal educational credential
$38,130 – $68,720+16.3%

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

#	Occupation	MedianAmherst Town-Northampton, MA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	TutorsSome college, no degree	$68,220	$32,090 – $120,550	+57.4%
2	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$110,990	$74,150 – $128,340	+54.4%
3	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$100,690	$77,240 – $101,510	+51.9%
4	Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$139,390	$81,440 – $214,970	+43.7%
5	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$111,440	$65,630 – $127,880	+38.9%
6	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$65,750	$37,600 – $137,570	+38.9%
7	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$145,190	$57,300 – $354,780	+38.2%
8	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,000	$48,040 – $81,700	+37.5%
9	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$84,730	$60,760 – $94,990	+30.1%
10	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$81,590	$48,240 – $101,700	+29.7%
11	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$101,500	$61,920 – $177,060	+28.9%
12	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$102,020	$63,600 – $165,960	+27.6%
13	History Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$106,840	$63,940 – $170,940	+27.5%
14	Cost EstimatorsBachelor's degree	$100,410	$50,270 – $168,070	+27.5%
15	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,060	$34,800 – $98,940	+27.4%
16	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$96,540	$61,370 – $205,200	+25.9%
17	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$163,630	$96,660 – $206,140	+25.8%
18	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$80,750	$52,630 – $96,950	+25.4%
19	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$79,900	$51,890 – $96,220	+24.9%
20	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$61,800	$47,530 – $64,730	+24.4%
21	First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling ServicesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,300	$38,360 – $79,040	+24.2%
22	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$105,050	$77,510 – $165,840	+24.1%
23	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$58,150	$38,930 – $96,140	+23.4%
24	Philosophy and Religion Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$98,920	$62,210 – $178,010	+23.2%
25	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,570	$48,760 – $109,340	+23.2%
26	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,650	$48,780 – $129,410	+23.1%
27	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,520	$40,320 – $79,860	+22.4%
28	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$76,740	$49,780 – $99,970	+22.4%
29	Sociology Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$103,110	$65,480 – $205,630	+22.3%
30	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$43,790	$31,200 – $50,140	+22.0%
31	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,980	$40,830 – $98,440	+21.8%
32	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,030	$37,780 – $111,890	+21.4%
33	Landscaping and Groundskeeping WorkersNo formal educational credential	$47,510	$37,280 – $60,330	+21.4%
34	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,080	$66,270 – $86,380	+21.2%
35	Psychology Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$97,110	$59,260 – $142,920	+20.9%
36	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$129,330	$80,170 – $215,130	+20.5%
37	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,370	$49,150 – $92,230	+20.3%
38	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,120	$58,540 – $145,050	+19.8%
39	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$44,680	$35,720 – $56,370	+19.5%
40	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,030	$62,680 – $114,780	+19.2%
41	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$45,430	$36,370 – $83,400	+19.1%
42	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$202,240	$108,970 – $347,300	+18.3%
43	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,920	$37,230 – $84,300	+16.9%
44	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,630	$39,030 – $79,910	+16.7%
45	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,370	$46,420 – $77,960	+16.5%
46	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,700	$37,470 – $47,560	+16.5%
47	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,980	$38,060 – $87,420	+16.5%
48	Chemistry Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$108,520	$67,710 – $214,300	+16.4%
49	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,750	$48,470 – $86,830	+16.4%
50	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$46,670	$38,130 – $68,720	+16.3%

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Amherst Town-Northampton, MA

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