Economists pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $74,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $227,210 or more. The middle half of economists in Boston earn between $91,270 and $161,740.
- $74K10th
- $91K25th
- $108KMedian
- $162K75th
- $227K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $137,090 | $11,424 | $65.91 |
| Median | $108,140 | $9,012 | $51.99 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $91,270 | $7,606 | $43.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $161,740 | $13,478 | $77.76 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Economists salary after taxes in Boston
On the average salary of $137,090, a single filer in Boston takes home about $98,433 a year, or $8,203 a month and $3,786 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $104,967 | $8,747 |
| Working in MA | $98,433 | $8,203 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for economists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $137,090 buys what about $126,623 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 5.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Economists salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 3 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
Highest-paying cities for economists
New York, NY pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($184,860).
- New York, NY$184,860
- Washington, DC$166,140
- Durham, NC$159,310
- St. Louis, MO$156,690
- Los Angeles, CA$155,860
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Economists salary in Boston: questions
How much do economists make an hour in Boston?
$65.91 an hour on average, and $51.99 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level economists salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $74,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $91,270, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the economists take-home pay in Boston?
About $98,433 a year ($8,203 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $137,090. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do economists earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($145,984).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-3011; area Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.9%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.65, this job is 2.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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