Political Scientists pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,700 a year or less, while the top 10% make $217,810 or more. The middle half of political scientists in Boston earn between $88,450 and $170,110.
- $73K10th
- $88K25th
- $134KMedian
- $170K75th
- $218K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $135,740 | $11,312 | $65.26 |
| Median | $133,930 | $11,161 | $64.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $88,450 | $7,371 | $42.52 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $170,110 | $14,176 | $81.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Political Scientists salary after taxes in Boston
On the average salary of $135,740, a single filer in Boston takes home about $97,577 a year, or $8,131 a month and $3,753 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 | $104,044 | $8,670 |
| Working in MA | $97,577 | $8,131 |
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 political scientists? 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 $135,740 buys what about $125,376 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 5.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Political Scientists salary in nearby metro areas
- Washington, DC$156,310
- Detroit, MI$89,470
- Ann Arbor, MI$110,690
- Chicago, IL$105,230
- Phoenix, AZ$124,870
- Seattle, WA$146,970
Highest-paying cities for political scientists
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($156,310).
- Washington, DC$156,310
- Seattle, WA$146,970
- Boston, MA$135,740
- Phoenix, AZ$124,870
- Ann Arbor, MI$110,690
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Political Scientists salary in Boston: questions
How much do political scientists make an hour in Boston?
$65.26 an hour on average, and $64.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level political scientists salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,700 a year and the 25th percentile is $88,450, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the political scientists take-home pay in Boston?
About $97,577 a year ($8,131 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $135,740. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do political scientists earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($153,194).
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 19-3094; area Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 1.95, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.