Highest-paying jobs in Boston
Stacker collected information on the highest-paying jobs in Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2021.
In Boston, the annual mean wage is $76,850 or 31.9% higher than national mean of $58,260, while the highest-paying occupation makes $358,450. Read on to see which jobs make the list.
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#50. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Annual mean salary: $131,710
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $104,160
- Employment: 13,840
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kansas City, MO-KS ($151,900)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($148,800)
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($141,070)

#49. Nurse practitioners
- Annual mean salary: $132,070
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,610
National
- Annual mean salary: $118,040
- Employment: 234,690
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($197,870)
--- Napa, CA ($184,700)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($180,380)

#48. Materials scientists
- Annual mean salary: $133,380
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $104,790
- Employment: 6,690
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ($142,410)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($135,480)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($133,380)
#47. Computer network architects
- Annual mean salary: $134,140
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,150
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,650
- Employment: 168,830
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,600)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($152,900)
--- Rapid City, SD ($145,810)

#46. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $134,380
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330
National
- Annual mean salary: $99,480
- Employment: 12,460
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($148,140)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($144,580)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($142,450)
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#45. Electronics engineers, except computer
- Annual mean salary: $134,790
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,710
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,490
- Employment: 107,170
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($152,060)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($138,480)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($136,310)

#44. Biochemists and biophysicists
- Annual mean salary: $135,070
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,640
National
- Annual mean salary: $113,460
- Employment: 35,050
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($135,070)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($133,520)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($133,390)

#43. Optometrists
- Annual mean salary: $135,620
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 550
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,440
- Employment: 38,720
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Wilmington, NC ($198,370)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($172,190)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($169,140)
#42. Athletes and sports competitors
- Annual mean salary: $139,500
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320
National
- Annual mean salary: $116,930
- Employment: 12,320
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($212,500)
--- Cleveland-Elyria, OH ($210,210)
--- Columbus, OH ($201,290)

#41. Actuaries
- Annual mean salary: $139,510
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,300
- Employment: 23,040
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($245,520)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($144,550)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($144,320)
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#40. Personal financial advisors
- Annual mean salary: $140,520
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,940
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,960
- Employment: 263,030
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($172,780)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,010)
--- East Stroudsburg, PA ($158,790)

#39. Computer and information research scientists
- Annual mean salary: $141,890
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,650
- Employment: 30,840
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($209,890)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($202,020)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($183,750)
#38. Administrative services managers
- Annual mean salary: $141,950
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,510
National
- Annual mean salary: $113,030
- Employment: 224,620
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,360)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($142,650)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($141,950)

#37. Database architects
- Annual mean salary: $142,790
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,150
National
- Annual mean salary: $121,840
- Employment: 50,440
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($187,070)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,830)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($156,530)

#36. Physicists
- Annual mean salary: $145,160
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $151,580
- Employment: 20,020
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($199,830)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($195,300)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($188,250)
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#35. Medical and health services managers
- Annual mean salary: $146,490
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 13,570
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,840
- Employment: 436,770
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($162,110)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($157,340)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($156,370)

#34. Industrial production managers
- Annual mean salary: $147,150
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,990
National
- Annual mean salary: $117,780
- Employment: 192,270
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($155,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($153,860)
--- Fort Collins, CO ($153,470)

#33. Training and development managers
- Annual mean salary: $147,490
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,110
National
- Annual mean salary: $128,800
- Employment: 35,830
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($180,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($176,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($166,410)
#32. General and operations managers
- Annual mean salary: $149,640
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 85,750
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,250
- Employment: 2,984,920
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($165,340)
--- Trenton, NJ ($165,030)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($159,210)
#31. Compensation and benefits managers
- Annual mean salary: $150,690
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640
National
- Annual mean salary: $139,470
- Employment: 15,330
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($190,560)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($187,770)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,130)
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#30. Air traffic controllers
- Annual mean salary: $150,740
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470
National
- Annual mean salary: $127,920
- Employment: 21,230
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($158,210)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($154,180)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($153,770)

#29. Purchasing managers
- Annual mean salary: $152,170
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,770
National
- Annual mean salary: $134,590
- Employment: 69,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($181,030)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,010)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($174,760)
#28. Fundraising managers
- Annual mean salary: $153,980
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 990
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,400
- Employment: 23,190
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($175,610)
--- Syracuse, NY ($155,700)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($153,980)

#27. Sales managers
- Annual mean salary: $155,730
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 15,830
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,390
- Employment: 453,800
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($198,960)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($196,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($182,820)
#26. Public relations managers
- Annual mean salary: $157,330
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,520
National
- Annual mean salary: $138,000
- Employment: 59,850
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($183,410)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($182,890)
--- Boulder, CO ($174,250)
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#25. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $157,460
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,760
National
- Annual mean salary: $133,310
- Employment: 191,830
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($226,440)
--- Jackson, MS ($202,690)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($183,250)
#24. Marketing managers
- Annual mean salary: $164,210
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 13,920
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,440
- Employment: 278,690
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($210,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($198,870)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($191,310)

#23. Human resources managers
- Annual mean salary: $165,700
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,580
National
- Annual mean salary: $136,590
- Employment: 166,530
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($190,020)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($186,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($175,410)

#22. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $166,870
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350
National
- Annual mean salary: $124,090
- Employment: 11,790
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($180,550)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($180,490)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($172,600)

#21. Financial managers
- Annual mean salary: $166,890
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 25,760
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,460
- Employment: 681,070
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($209,100)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($201,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($188,900)
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#20. Architectural and engineering managers
- Annual mean salary: $170,870
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,970
National
- Annual mean salary: $158,970
- Employment: 187,100
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($206,050)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($198,430)
#19. Lawyers
- Annual mean salary: $171,660
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 16,730
National
- Annual mean salary: $148,030
- Employment: 681,010
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($231,200)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($191,460)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($186,610)
#18. Computer and information systems managers
- Annual mean salary: $172,010
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 19,180
National
- Annual mean salary: $162,930
- Employment: 485,190
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($211,470)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($202,800)
#17. Dentists, general
- Annual mean salary: $178,360
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,220
National
- Annual mean salary: $167,160
- Employment: 108,680
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Manchester, NH ($276,510)
--- Salinas, CA ($234,410)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($229,800)
#16. Podiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $187,530
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $158,380
- Employment: 8,840
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($231,930)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($219,920)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($205,040)
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#15. General internal medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $187,810
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,410
National
- Annual mean salary: $242,190
- Employment: 58,260
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rockford, IL ($359,200)
--- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($350,330)
--- Sumter, SC ($334,810)
#14. Pediatricians, general
- Annual mean salary: $212,300
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350
National
- Annual mean salary: $198,420
- Employment: 33,620
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($298,760)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($298,320)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($291,940)
#13. Natural sciences managers
- Annual mean salary: $222,360
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,680
National
- Annual mean salary: $156,110
- Employment: 74,760
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($222,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($219,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($216,750)

#12. Psychiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $230,130
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 670
National
- Annual mean salary: $249,760
- Employment: 25,520
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($360,840)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($360,740)
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($333,190)
#11. Nurse anesthetists
- Annual mean salary: $231,700
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $202,470
- Employment: 43,950
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Springfield, IL ($298,890)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($283,550)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($276,810)
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#10. Neurologists
- Annual mean salary: $246,590
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $267,660
- Employment: 7,120
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($350,140)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($348,500)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($346,670)
#9. Family medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $269,230
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,330
National
- Annual mean salary: $235,930
- Employment: 102,930
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Coeur d'Alene, ID ($336,820)
--- Fond du Lac, WI ($336,140)
--- Gainesville, GA ($330,930)
#8. Chief executives
- Annual mean salary: $269,560
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,660
National
- Annual mean salary: $213,020
- Employment: 200,480
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($313,440)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($298,960)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($296,480)
#7. Physicians, pathologists
- Annual mean salary: $289,560
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $267,180
- Employment: 11,010
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Lexington-Fayette, KY ($351,450)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($344,900)
--- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($341,360)
#6. Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Annual mean salary: $303,870
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
National
- Annual mean salary: $296,210
- Employment: 21,570
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($377,980)
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($375,200)
--- Modesto, CA ($362,780)
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#5. Cardiologists
- Annual mean salary: $309,290
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $353,970
- Employment: 18,610
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($411,230)
--- Cleveland-Elyria, OH ($365,880)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($363,270)
#4. Emergency medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $311,770
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 890
National
- Annual mean salary: $310,640
- Employment: 36,180
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($368,310)
--- Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL ($357,650)
--- Richmond, VA ($357,130)
#3. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric
- Annual mean salary: $315,790
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $270,090
- Employment: 11,610
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($356,830)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($355,740)
--- York-Hanover, PA ($344,470)
#2. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric
- Annual mean salary: $354,880
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $306,220
- Employment: 16,260
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($366,650)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($364,290)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($354,880)
#1. Radiologists
- Annual mean salary: $358,450
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 870
National
- Annual mean salary: $301,720
- Employment: 29,530
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($370,570)
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($358,680)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($358,450)
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