College Professor Salary in Boston, MA
College Professors in Boston, MA earn a median of $85,000/year, ranging from $65,450 (25th percentile) to $136,000 (90th percentile). After Massachusetts state taxes (5%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 162), this is equivalent to $52,469 in purchasing power vs the US average.
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) | $85,000 | 162 | $52,469 |
| San Francisco, CA | $96,000 | 186 | $51,613 |
| New York, NY | $92,000 | 187 | $49,198 |
| Seattle, WA | $94,000 | 162 | $58,025 |
| Austin, TX | $77,000 | 124 | $62,097 |
| Denver, CO | $74,000 | 128 | $57,813 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average College Professor salary in Boston, MA?
The median College Professor salary in Boston, MA is $85,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $65,450 and the 90th percentile is $136,000.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a College Professor?
Boston, MA has a cost of living index of 162 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $85,000 College Professor salary in Boston, MA is equivalent to $52,469 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 College Professor salary range in Boston, MA?
In Boston, MA, College Professors earn between $65,450 (25th percentile) and $136,000 (90th percentile), with a median of $85,000 per year.
How many College Professor jobs are there in Boston, MA?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 63,000 College Professor positions in the Boston, MA metropolitan area.
What do College Professors earn in Boston, MA?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, College Professors in Boston, MA earn a median annual wage of $85,000. The middle 50% earn between $65,450 and $108,800. The top 10% earn more than $136,000. There are approximately 63,000 College Professors employed in the Boston, MA metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 4.1%.
Is Boston, MA a good place for a College Professor?
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 College Professor in Boston, MA earning $85,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $52,469 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 $85,000 in Boston, MAhas the same purchasing power as $52,469 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.
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.