Salary in Boston, MA · 2026
Is $80,000 a good salary in Boston, MA?
Is $80,000 a good salary in Boston, MA?
Nationally, $80,000 sits around the 71st percentile of US earners. But in Boston, MA what matters is what's left: after MA tax your take-home is about $5,093 a month, and living alone here costs roughly $3,830 — so it comfortably covers living alone here with some to spare, leaving about $1,263 a month.
Verified 12 August 2026
| In Boston, MA on $80,000 | |
|---|---|
| Take-home pay (after MA tax) | $5,093/mo |
| Rent (one-bed) | −$2,900 |
| Utilities, transport, food, health | −$930 |
| Left each month | $1,263 |
Rent alone would take about 57% of your take-home — well above the 30% guideline. Sharing a place changes this picture significantly.
How it compares nationally
Across the whole US, $80,000 is $26,990 above the median individual income of $53,010, around the 71st percentile. But the same salary feels very different depending on the city — which is exactly why local cost matters as much as the headline number.