Registered Nurse.
Boston.
$119,000
median salary, 27% above the national average
$100,000 to $137,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Boston is 22% more expensive than the national average. For Registered Nurses, that shakes out to a median of $119,000, with the full range spanning $100,000 to $137,000. Specialty certification, geographic location, and facility type create the widest salary ranges. Know the range before you walk in. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Registered Nurse in Boston, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $106,180 for Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141) in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area, based on 64,240 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$81,880
25th percentile
$94,870
Median
$106,180
75th percentile
$153,380
90th percentile
$188,670
Workers surveyed
64,240
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141) rather than Registered Nurse specifically. The Bostonrange at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 29-1141Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $107,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$77,000
to $95,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$101,000
to $125,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$131,000
to $155,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$149,000
to $184,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $34,000 to the total package.
Base
$119,000
Equity
$20,000
Bonus
$12,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $153,000
How Boston compares.
Boston, MA
$119,000
Cost of living: 22% above average
National Average
$94,000
Boston is $25,000 above
Registered Nurse salary by city.
Salary by role in Boston.
What you should know.
The Registered Nurse landscape in Boston is not what most salary sites will tell you. Boston's job market is powered by world class universities, a thriving biotech corridor, and established finance and healthcare sectors. The Kendall Square area is one of the most concentrated biotech hubs globally. Tech salaries in Boston are competitive with West Coast markets, particularly for roles that intersect with life sciences, AI, and robotics. Specialty certification, geographic location, and facility type create the widest salary ranges. ICU, OR, and emergency nurses earn premiums over med surg nurses. Travel nursing contracts can pay 50 to 100% more than permanent positions. Union representation and shift differentials for nights and weekends also impact total pay.
New graduate RNs start at $58,000 to $72,000, with experienced RNs reaching $80,000 to $100,000 after five years. Nurse practitioners earn $110,000 to $140,000, and CRNAs (nurse anesthetists) can earn $180,000 to $220,000. Nursing management roles offer $95,000 to $140,000 with administrative responsibilities. In Boston, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 22% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
Base salary is not the full picture. Benefits are a major component, typically including health insurance, pension or 403(b) matching, tuition reimbursement, and continuing education credits. Shift differentials add $3 to $8 per hour for nights and weekends. Signing bonuses of $5,000 to $20,000 are common in high demand specialties. And on the tax side: massachusetts has a flat 5% income tax on most earnings, plus a 4% surtax on income above $1 million. There is no city income tax in Boston, keeping the total burden moderate. When someone quotes you $119,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Emphasize specialized credentials or advanced degrees. Boston employers, especially in biotech and finance, place a premium on educational pedigree and certifications. The range for Registered Nurses in Boston runs from $100,000 to $137,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Project Manager in Boston earns $118,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Boston is CTO at $381,000
Common questions.
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