Salary Guide · 2026
Massachusetts Salary Guide (2026)
This guide explains how salaries are taxed in Massachusetts, what take-home pay looks like at different income levels, and how cost of living affects real purchasing power across major cities.
Massachusetts Income Snapshot
Individual median income
$57,200
+2% vs US median
Household median income
$96,505
US Census ACS 2023
Median take-home (annual)
$45,207
Eff. rate: 20.97%
Median monthly take-home
$3,767
Single filer, 2026
Income Tax Structure in Massachusetts
Tax system: Flat state income tax (5%) + 9% on income above $1M
Massachusetts has a 5% flat income tax on wages, with a surtax of 4% on income above $1M (total: 9%). Boston is a major hub for biotech, finance, and technology, with salaries to match — though housing costs are high.
Take-Home Pay at Popular Salary Levels
Single filer · Standard deduction · MA state tax · 2026 IRS brackets
| Gross salary | Federal tax | State tax | FICA | Take-home | Monthly | Eff. rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $75,000 | $7,854 | $3,750 | $5,738 | $57,658 | $4,805 | 23.12% |
| $115,000 | $16,654 | $5,750 | $8,798 | $83,798 | $6,983 | 27.13% |
| $160,000 | $27,314 | $8,000 | $12,240 | $112,446 | $9,371 | 29.72% |
| $210,000 | $39,314 | $10,500 | $14,338 | $145,848 | $12,154 | 30.55% |
Take-home as % of gross
Housing Affordability in Massachusetts Cities
Based on $160,000 salary · Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · COL: C2ER/ACCRA
Boston
COL: 1.93× · 1BR rent: $2,900/mo
Rent burden: 30.9% of take-home
Is $160,000 enough in Boston? →Worcester
COL: 1.28× · 1BR rent: $1,800/mo
Rent burden: 19.2% of take-home
Is $160,000 enough in Worcester? →Springfield
COL: 0.88× · 1BR rent: $1,000/mo
Rent burden: 10.7% of take-home
Is $160,000 enough in Springfield? →Cambridge
COL: 1.93× · 1BR rent: $3,100/mo
Rent burden: 33.1% of take-home
Is $160,000 enough in Cambridge? →Lowell
COL: 1.23× · 1BR rent: $1,700/mo
Rent burden: 18.1% of take-home
Is $160,000 enough in Lowell? →Brockton
COL: 1.18× · 1BR rent: $1,600/mo
Rent burden: 17.1% of take-home
Is $160,000 enough in Brockton? →Popular Salary Guides for Massachusetts
Is This Salary Enough in Massachusetts?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is $100,000 a good salary in Massachusetts?
A $100,000 salary in Massachusetts yields approximately $73,996 per year ($6,166/month) after federal and state taxes. In most Massachusetts cities, this is above the state individual median of $57,200 — generally a comfortable income.
How much state income tax do you pay in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has Flat state income tax (5%) + 9% on income above $1M. For a $115,000 salary, the estimated state income tax is $5,750. Your effective rate depends on your income level, filing status, and deductions.
What salary is considered middle class in Massachusetts?
The individual median income in Massachusetts is $57,200 and the household median is $96,505 (Census ACS 2023). Middle-class income typically ranges from 67%–200% of the household median, roughly $64,658–$193,010 for a family.
Data Sources
- •Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
- •Payroll taxes: Social Security Administration
- •Salary data: Bureau of Labor Statistics
- •Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
Data updated monthly using government datasets.