Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Massachusetts

Each occupation's median wage in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 · vs. national

1Structural Iron and Steel Workers$120,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$82,760 – $128,080+92.5%
2Natural Sciences Managers$267,290
Bachelor's degree
$153,490 – $329,820+59.8%
3Brickmasons and Blockmasons$94,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,940 – $136,860+52.8%
4Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$98,020
Bachelor's degree
$77,530 – $111,560+47.9%
5Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$103,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,070 – $181,430+47.7%
6Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$93,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,010 – $135,080+47.1%
7Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$94,000
Bachelor's degree
$60,620 – $118,190+46.9%
8Correctional Officers and Jailers$86,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,520 – $101,620+46.4%
9Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$94,590
Bachelor's degree
$61,160 – $114,660+42.7%
10Opticians, Dispensing$67,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,850 – $83,550+42.2%
11Tutors$60,900
Some college, no degree
$34,630 – $100,960+40.5%
12Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$91,350
Bachelor's degree
$61,200 – $127,210+40.3%
13Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$103,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,640 – $108,790+39.1%
14Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$89,450
Bachelor's degree
$60,590 – $107,610+39.0%
15Microbiologists$122,350
Bachelor's degree
$75,990 – $162,760+39.0%
16Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$64,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,110 – $105,390+37.0%
17Chemists$125,000
Bachelor's degree
$71,120 – $212,210+37.0%
18Bus Drivers, School$65,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,530 – $71,980+36.0%
19Construction Laborers$63,390
No formal educational credential
$45,170 – $98,880+34.5%
20Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$84,100
Bachelor's degree
$58,900 – $106,600+34.2%
21Food Service Managers$92,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,290 – $129,990+32.9%
22Sheet Metal Workers$82,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,440 – $121,050+32.8%
23Loan Officers$101,600
Bachelor's degree
$64,680 – $198,220+32.5%
24Management Analysts$134,720
Bachelor's degree
$82,490 – $216,940+32.3%
25Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$95,260
Bachelor's degree
$61,500 – $122,660+32.2%
26Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$128,030
Doctoral or professional degree
$66,120 – $208,700+32.0%
27First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$115,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,620 – $172,480+31.6%
28Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$56,370
Bachelor's degree
$32,890 – $77,920+31.4%
29Roofers$72,750
No formal educational credential
$50,790 – $106,290+31.2%
30Insurance Underwriters$106,640
Bachelor's degree
$70,590 – $167,590+31.1%
31Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$78,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,740 – $103,820+30.7%
32Art Directors$149,320
Bachelor's degree
$78,470 – $218,270+30.0%
33Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$101,810
Bachelor's degree
$58,090 – $166,970+29.3%
34Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$103,620
Associate's degree
$75,350 – $131,940+29.3%
35Sales Managers$191,200
Bachelor's degree
$100,510 – $321,000+29.0%
36Managers, All Other$182,950
Bachelor's degree
$110,970 – $309,290+28.9%
37Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$95,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,520 – $106,520+28.5%
38Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$76,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,630 – $125,400+28.4%
39Cost Estimators$100,840
Bachelor's degree
$58,870 – $151,780+28.1%
40Computer Programmers$128,390
Bachelor's degree
$77,060 – $168,310+27.9%
41Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$47,790
No formal educational credential
$39,250 – $58,090+27.6%
42Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$100,310
Bachelor's degree
$50,540 – $219,190+27.5%
43Insurance Sales Agents$79,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,620 – $163,380+27.3%
44Bill and Account Collectors$59,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,990 – $75,560+27.2%
45Marketing Managers$212,020
Bachelor's degree
$122,350 – $310,510+27.1%
46Child, Family, and School Social Workers$75,570
Bachelor's degree
$48,140 – $104,060+26.9%
47Medical Equipment Repairers$78,230
Associate's degree
$48,860 – $100,490+26.9%
48Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$61,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,860 – $84,390+26.8%
49Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$77,300
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,820 – $102,410+26.7%
50Special Education Teachers, Middle School$84,550
Bachelor's degree
$60,080 – $108,440+26.6%

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	vs. national
1	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$120,840	$82,760 – $128,080	+92.5%
2	Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree	$267,290	$153,490 – $329,820	+59.8%
3	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,950	$59,940 – $136,860	+52.8%
4	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$98,020	$77,530 – $111,560	+47.9%
5	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,410	$62,070 – $181,430	+47.7%
6	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,880	$52,010 – $135,080	+47.1%
7	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$94,000	$60,620 – $118,190	+46.9%
8	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,310	$63,520 – $101,620	+46.4%
9	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$94,590	$61,160 – $114,660	+42.7%
10	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,210	$48,850 – $83,550	+42.2%
11	TutorsSome college, no degree	$60,900	$34,630 – $100,960	+40.5%
12	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$91,350	$61,200 – $127,210	+40.3%
13	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,410	$56,640 – $108,790	+39.1%
14	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$89,450	$60,590 – $107,610	+39.0%
15	MicrobiologistsBachelor's degree	$122,350	$75,990 – $162,760	+39.0%
16	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,620	$36,110 – $105,390	+37.0%
17	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$125,000	$71,120 – $212,210	+37.0%
18	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,170	$44,530 – $71,980	+36.0%
19	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$63,390	$45,170 – $98,880	+34.5%
20	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$84,100	$58,900 – $106,600	+34.2%
21	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,240	$58,290 – $129,990	+32.9%
22	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,100	$46,440 – $121,050	+32.8%
23	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$101,600	$64,680 – $198,220	+32.5%
24	Management AnalystsBachelor's degree	$134,720	$82,490 – $216,940	+32.3%
25	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$95,260	$61,500 – $122,660	+32.2%
26	Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$128,030	$66,120 – $208,700	+32.0%
27	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$115,150	$62,620 – $172,480	+31.6%
28	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$56,370	$32,890 – $77,920	+31.4%
29	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$72,750	$50,790 – $106,290	+31.2%
30	Insurance UnderwritersBachelor's degree	$106,640	$70,590 – $167,590	+31.1%
31	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,530	$48,740 – $103,820	+30.7%
32	Art DirectorsBachelor's degree	$149,320	$78,470 – $218,270	+30.0%
33	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$101,810	$58,090 – $166,970	+29.3%
34	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$103,620	$75,350 – $131,940	+29.3%
35	Sales ManagersBachelor's degree	$191,200	$100,510 – $321,000	+29.0%
36	Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$182,950	$110,970 – $309,290	+28.9%
37	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,520	$65,520 – $106,520	+28.5%
38	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,820	$52,630 – $125,400	+28.4%
39	Cost EstimatorsBachelor's degree	$100,840	$58,870 – $151,780	+28.1%
40	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$128,390	$77,060 – $168,310	+27.9%
41	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$47,790	$39,250 – $58,090	+27.6%
42	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$100,310	$50,540 – $219,190	+27.5%
43	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,300	$57,620 – $163,380	+27.3%
44	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,800	$45,990 – $75,560	+27.2%
45	Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree	$212,020	$122,350 – $310,510	+27.1%
46	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$75,570	$48,140 – $104,060	+26.9%
47	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$78,230	$48,860 – $100,490	+26.9%
48	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,730	$47,860 – $84,390	+26.8%
49	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,300	$50,820 – $102,410	+26.7%
50	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$84,550	$60,080 – $108,440	+26.6%

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 pay the biggest premium in Massachusetts

More for Massachusetts

Metro areas in Massachusetts

By field in Massachusetts

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state