Accountant Salary in Boston, MA
Accountants in Boston, MA earn a median of $88,000/year, ranging from $67,000 (25th percentile) to $143,000 (90th percentile). After Massachusetts state taxes (5%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 162), this is equivalent to $54,321 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in Boston, MA
Among the larger employers here are PwC, KPMG, and Wellington Management, with Fidelity and State Street also pulling heavily on accounting talent for their fund and back-office operations. A one-bedroom in Cambridge or Brighton runs around $2,400 to $2,800 monthly, with more affordable inventory in Quincy or Medford if you can stomach the commute. The Red and Orange Lines connect most of the financial district to residential pockets, so plenty of accountants ditch the car entirely - parking downtown is its own monthly expense. Massachusetts levies a 5% flat state income tax, and the heavy mutual-fund and asset-management presence means investment-company audit and fund accounting work is unusually common compared to other metros.
1Salary Distribution in Boston, MA
2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power
* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.
How Does Boston, MA Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA (current) | $88,000 | 162 | $54,321 |
| San Francisco, CA | $95,000 | 186 | $51,075 |
| New York, NY | $98,000 | 187 | $52,406 |
| Seattle, WA | $85,000 | 162 | $52,469 |
| Austin, TX | $75,000 | 124 | $60,484 |
| Denver, CO | $72,000 | 128 | $56,250 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Accountant salary in Boston, MA?
The median Accountant salary in Boston, MA is $88,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $67,000 and the 90th percentile is $143,000.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a Accountant?
Boston, MA has a cost of living index of 162 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $88,000 Accountant salary in Boston, MA is equivalent to $54,321 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Boston, MA?
Boston, MA has a cost of living index of 162, meaning it is 62% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in Massachusetts is approximately 5%.
What is the Accountant salary range in Boston, MA?
In Boston, MA, Accountants earn between $67,000 (25th percentile) and $143,000 (90th percentile), with a median of $88,000 per year.
How many Accountant jobs are there in Boston, MA?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 20,000 Accountant positions in the Boston, MA metropolitan area.
What do Accountants earn in Boston, MA?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, Accountants in Boston, MA earn a median annual wage of $88,000. The middle 50% earn between $67,000 and $114,000. The top 10% earn more than $143,000. There are approximately 20,000 Accountants employed in the Boston, MA metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 2.2%.
Is Boston, MA a good place for a Accountant?
Boston, MA has a cost of living index of 162 (US average = 100), making it 62% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a Accountant in Boston, MA earning $88,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $54,321 relative to the US median. Massachusetts has a state income tax rate of approximately 5%.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Boston, MA?
Boston, MA's cost of living index is 162, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $88,000 in Boston, MAhas the same purchasing power as $54,321 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.
Compare Boston, MA with Another City
See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.
5Should You Work as a Accountant in Boston, MA?
The headline median of $88,000 is only part of the picture. Boston, MA's cost of living index is 162 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here buys roughly 62¢ of what it buys in an average US city. The $88,000 salary effectively purchases $54,321 worth of goods and services at national-average prices.
Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In Boston, MA, the median household typically spends 35–45% of gross income on housing — significantly above the 28% "affordable" threshold most lenders use. For a $88,000 salary, that translates to roughly $35,200/year on housing alone.
State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. Massachusetts levies a state income tax of approximately 5%, which reduces take-home by roughly $4,400 per year on this salary. States with zero income tax (Texas, Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada) offer a structural advantage, but often offset it with higher sales tax or property tax. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $77,246. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: San Francisco, CA ($95,000 median, COL 186); New York, NY ($98,000 median, COL 187); Seattle, WA ($85,000 median, COL 162). If you're optimizing for purchasing power, compare the COL-adjusted column in the table above and pick the highest number. If you're optimizing for career progression, weight total employment and yearly growth in the role — larger markets offer more lateral moves and promotion velocity, even when nominal pay is lower.
The 2.2% year-over-year growth rate for Accountants in Boston, MA is a leading indicator of market health. A mature, slower-growth market — often higher-paid in absolute terms but with fewer open roles and slower lateral moves. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Accountants or the Massachusetts state overview.
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data.