SalariesByCity
BLS SOC 21-1012 · Massachusetts · Updated 2026

School Counselor Salary in Boston, MA

School Counselors in Boston, MA earn a median of $62,000/year, ranging from $47,740 (25th percentile) to $99,200 (90th percentile). After Massachusetts state taxes (5%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 162), this is equivalent to $38,272 in purchasing power vs the US average.

Median Annual
$62,000
BLS median
Entry Level (P25)
$47,740
25th percentile
Senior (P75)
$79,360
75th percentile
Top Earners (P90)
$99,200
90th percentile

1Salary Distribution in Boston, MA

P25
P75
P25
$47,740
Median
$62,000
P75
$79,360
P90
$99,200

2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power

Gross Median Salary
$62,000
Before taxes
Est. Take-Home (After Tax)
$54,424
After 5% state + ~7.6% FICA
COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$33,595
vs US average (COL index: 162)

* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.

3

How Does Boston, MA Compare?

Nearby and similar metro areas
CityMedianCOL IndexCOL-Adjusted
Boston, MA (current)$62,000162$38,272
San Francisco, CA$70,000186$37,634
New York, NY$67,000187$35,829
Seattle, WA$68,000162$41,975
Austin, TX$56,000124$45,161
Denver, CO$54,000128$42,188

4Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average School Counselor salary in Boston, MA?

The median School Counselor salary in Boston, MA is $62,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $47,740 and the 90th percentile is $99,200.

Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a School Counselor?

Boston, MA has a cost of living index of 162 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $62,000 School Counselor salary in Boston, MA is equivalent to $38,272 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 School Counselor salary range in Boston, MA?

In Boston, MA, School Counselors earn between $47,740 (25th percentile) and $99,200 (90th percentile), with a median of $62,000 per year.

How many School Counselor jobs are there in Boston, MA?

According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 105,000 School Counselor positions in the Boston, MA metropolitan area.

What do School Counselors earn in Boston, MA?

Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, School Counselors in Boston, MA earn a median annual wage of $62,000. The middle 50% earn between $47,740 and $79,360. The top 10% earn more than $99,200. There are approximately 105,000 School Counselors employed in the Boston, MA metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 4.1%.

Is Boston, MA a good place for a School Counselor?

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 School Counselor in Boston, MA earning $62,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $38,272 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 $62,000 in Boston, MAhas the same purchasing power as $38,272 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.