What RNs earn in Boston
Registered nurses in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro earn a median of $106,180 a year, 9% above the national RN median of $97,550. The middle half of RNs here earn between $94,870 and $153,380, so experience, specialty and shift differentials can move you a long way inside that range. Among the 60 metro markets The RN Network tracks, Boston ranks #11 for median RN pay.
| Role | Median | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $106,180 | $94,870 – $153,380 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $147,480 | $134,350 – $172,040 |
| Nurse Midwife | $174,870 | $139,640 – $176,370 |
Powered by RN Workforce Insights™ · 2025 annual pay. Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile.
Cost of living and the Boston nursing market
Pay only tells half the story. A two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent runs about $2,941 a month in Boston, which is roughly 33% of a median RN salary before taxes. Housing takes a big bite here, which makes sign-on bonuses, housing stipends and shift differentials worth pushing for.
About 64,240 RNs work in this metro, the #7 largest RN workforce of the markets we track. The RN Network directory lists 68 healthcare employers in Boston, Cambridge and Newton, including 28 behavioral health facilities, 16 long-term care facilities, 15 hospitals and 7 dialysis centers.
Hospitals hiring nurses in Boston
Every hospital below has its own page with pay context, nearby openings and a direct line to its careers site.
Nursing jobs in Boston
Do not wait for the right posting to find you. Claim your free Talent Agent profile and get matched with Boston roles that fit your specialty.
Boston healthcare news
- From casino workers to nurses, here are the labor disputes to watch around Greater BostonWBUR · Oct 8
- Twin baby girls separated in NICUs at 2 Boston hospitals. Parents pleading to get them back together.CBS News · Oct 7
- Mass. moves to overhaul nursing home oversight. Here's what could changeNBC Boston · Sep 29
- Outside chains like RegalCare transformed Mass. nursing homes. Quality fell.The Boston Globe · Sep 28
- Boston Children's Hospital Receives $10 Million Gift from Bank of America to Support New Behavioral Health CampusPR Newswire · Oct 1
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View This Product →Common questions about nursing in Boston
How much do registered nurses make in Boston?
The median RN salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro is $106,180 a year, and the middle half of RNs earn between $94,870 and $153,380.
What do nurse practitioners earn in Boston?
Nurse practitioners in the Boston metro earn a median of $147,480 a year.
Can a nurse afford to live in Boston?
A two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent costs about $2,941 a month in Boston, roughly 33% of a median RN salary before taxes.
Which hospitals hire nurses in Boston?
Hospitals in the Boston area include Brigham and Women'S Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, New England Baptist Hospital, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Mount Auburn Hospital. See the full list in The RN Network facility directory.
How do I find a nursing job in Boston?
Browse current Massachusetts openings on The RN Network job board, claim your free Talent Agent profile so employers hiring in Boston can find you, and compare pay using the Massachusetts salary guide.