SOC 41-2031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Retail Salespersons — Boston
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH · 5 metro areas compared
The median wage for Retail Salespersons in Boston, MA is $36,850 per year, close to the national median of $35,410 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Retail Salespersons in Boston, MA is $36,850 per year, close to the national median of $35,410 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $35,410 and $42,180. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $34,000 and the ninetieth at $48,260.
Employment stands at 64,150, or 23.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Barnstable Town records the highest median at $36,790. Of the 687 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 672nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,000 | −4.0% |
| 25th | $35,410 | +0.0% |
| Median (50th) | $36,850 | +4.1% |
| 75th | $42,180 | +19.1% |
| 90th | $48,260 | +36.3% |
| Mean | $40,320 | +13.9% |
Other metro areas in Massachusetts
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barnstable Town | $36,790 | 3,650 | |
| 2 | Amherst Town | $36,630 | 1,790 | |
| 3 | Worcester | $36,220 | 8,830 | |
| 4 | Pittsfield | $35,540 | 1,850 | |
| 5 | Springfield | $35,440 | 4,410 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Boston run 5.8% above the national average, so the median of $36,850 buys what $34,830 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 1.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,850as reported by BLSLocal price level
105.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$34,830US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,850 a year, 4.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,000 to $48,260 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 64,150 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Barnstable Town, at $36,790.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Retail Salespersons in Boston, MA?
The median annual wage is $36,850, or $17.72 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $35,410, so pay in Boston, MA is 4.1% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Boston, MA earns more than $48,260 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,000 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Barnstable Town, at $36,790 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 64,150 jobs in this occupation in Boston, MA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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