How Much Does an RN Make in Massachusetts in 2026?

A typical RN in Massachusetts earns about $50.27 per hour ($104,550 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $8,712 a month and $2,011 a week, based on the annual figure. These numbers reflect pay across hospitals, clinics, and other health care settings statewide.

Massachusetts pay runs 7% above the national typical figure of $97,550, and the state ranks 8th among all 51 states for RN pay. That comparison reflects the state's overall wage levels and cost of living. Roughly 88,200 RNs work across Massachusetts, giving these figures a broad base.

Entry-level positions for RNs in Massachusetts typically offer around $38.61 per hour (about $80,310 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Pay tends to move toward the state's typical figure of $104,550 within the first several years on the job. New RNs often start in general medical-surgical units before moving into specialty care, where pay tends to climb further.

Experienced RNs in Massachusetts often earn upwards of $65.44 per hour ($136,110 per year), and the top 10% of earners make over $174,510 a year. That leaves a spread of $94,200 between entry-level and top pay. Setting, years of experience, and city all play a part in where an individual nurse lands within that range.

Massachusetts RN pay has climbed from $83,950 in 2015 to $104,550 in 2025, a decade record. That's a gain of $20,600, or a 25% rise over ten years. The increase has been fairly steady year over year, with pay rising in each of the last ten years of available data.

Nationally, RN pay rose 45% over the same ten years, faster than the 25% increase seen in Massachusetts. Pay in the state has still moved up every year without exception. Someone starting an RN career in Massachusetts today can expect pay to keep tracking upward, though no specific future increase is guaranteed.

Boston pays RNs the most in Massachusetts, with a typical $106,180 per year ($51.05 per hour), about 2% above the state figure. These figures reflect the greater Boston metro area, not just the city itself. Pittsfield follows closely at $104,950 a year, keeping pay levels fairly close across the state's higher-paying areas.

Springfield is the lowest-paying city among those tracked, at $98,410 a year. That's a spread of $7,770 between the highest- and lowest-paying cities in the state. Boston also has the largest RN workforce of any Massachusetts city, at 64,240 nurses. Lower pay in Springfield tends to track a lower cost of living compared with Boston.

Massachusetts RN pay compares well with its neighbors. New York pays more, at $109,440 a year, about 5% above Massachusetts. Connecticut ($102,740, 2% lower), Rhode Island ($100,640, 4% lower), New Hampshire ($99,700, 5% lower), and Vermont ($97,460, 7% lower) all pay less. Vermont trails furthest among the group. Nursing licenses are often transferable or eligible for endorsement between neighboring states, making it easier to compare offers across state lines.

RN pay in Massachusetts typically runs about $104,550 a year ($50.27 an hour), running above the national figure and up 25% over the past decade. Pay varies by city and experience level, with Boston at the high end and Springfield at the lower end of the range. Readers considering a move should check the state's nursing licensing and registry page for requirements, and the city-level pages here for local pay figures.