Healthcare Social Workers pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $103,700 or more. The middle half of healthcare social workers in Boston earn between $61,270 and $93,950.
- $56K10th
- $61K25th
- $78KMedian
- $94K75th
- $104K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $79,100 | $6,592 | $38.03 |
| Median | $78,410 | $6,534 | $37.70 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,270 | $5,106 | $29.46 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $93,950 | $7,829 | $45.17 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Healthcare Social Workers pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Healthcare social workers in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($77,000) and 10% more than the U.S. average ($71,790). At the median the gap is +16% against the U.S. median of $67,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $79,100 | $78,410 | $56,140 | $103,700 | 4,950 |
| Massachusetts | $77,000 | $76,440 | $51,270 | $102,070 | 7,220 |
| United States | $71,790 | $67,880 | $46,220 | $100,360 | 187,630 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Healthcare Social Workers salary after taxes in Boston
On the average salary of $79,100, a single filer in Boston takes home about $60,842 a year, or $5,070 a month and $2,340 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% 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 | $64,477 | $5,373 |
| Working in MA | $60,842 | $5,070 |
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 healthcare social workers? 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 $79,100 buys what about $73,061 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 9.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Healthcare Social Workers salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boston$79,100
- Barnstable$76,020
- Worcester$74,320
- Springfield$73,050
- Amherst$70,700
- Pittsfield$67,260
Highest-paying cities for healthcare social workers
Napa, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($129,130).
- Napa, CA$129,130
- San Luis Obispo, CA$112,750
- Vallejo, CA$112,700
- San Jose, CA$108,280
- Santa Rosa, CA$106,760
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Healthcare Social Workers salary in Boston: questions
How much do healthcare social workers make an hour in Boston?
$38.03 an hour on average, and $37.70 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level healthcare social workers salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,270, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the healthcare social workers take-home pay in Boston?
About $60,842 a year ($5,070 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $79,100. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do healthcare social workers earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% more than the U.S. average for this job ($71,790).
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 21-1022; area Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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 1.52, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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