Cost of hiring an accountant in Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH
Accountants earn more in Boston-Cambridge than anywhere else in Massachusetts. Expect a median of $100,150 a year[1], about level with the Massachusetts statewide median of $99,460 and 19.7% above the US median of $83,680. Only 7 of 521 US areas pay more for this job. It is the largest market for the job in Massachusetts: about 37,150 people.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Boston-Cambridge against Massachusetts and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH | $72,450 | $100,150 | $161,450 | |
| Massachusetts | $70,460 | $99,460 | $160,100 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Boston-Cambridge earns $79,990–$129,490. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $161,450, only 2.2 times the bottom tenth, against 2.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. The mean ($108,660) is 8% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $72,450 | $6,038 | $34.83 | $103,500 |
| 25th percentile | $79,990 | $6,666 | $38.46 | $114,271 |
| Median | $100,150 | $8,346 | $48.15 | $143,071 |
| 75th percentile | $129,490 | $10,791 | $62.25 | $184,986 |
| 90th percentile | $161,450 | $13,454 | $77.62 | $230,643 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $29,340 a year in pay and about $41,914 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $20,160 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in Boston-Cambridge
At the $100,150 median, a local hire costs about $143,071 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $42,921 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Boston-Cambridge
Of the 17 roles we track in Boston-Cambridge, this one ranks #3 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $114,990 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $43,930.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +14.8% | 18,840 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +2.2% | 32,310 | |
| Accountant | this role | 37,150 | |
| Recruiter | -9.9% | 21,770 | |
| Executive Assistant | -14.9% | 11,290 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -16.7% | 25,310 | |
| Paralegal | -20.3% | 6,300 | |
| Office Manager | -22.1% | 25,630 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -33.2% | 2,500 | |
| Bookkeeper | -39.1% | 21,170 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -40.8% | 28,540 | |
| HR Assistant | -42.6% | 1,150 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -45.0% | 1,100 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -48.5% | 16,330 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -50.2% | 37,780 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -52.4% | 1,460 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -56.1% | 14,320 |
Other areas in Massachusetts
Across the 7 areas of Massachusetts with data for this job, the median runs from $84,390 in Amherst Town-Northampton to $100,150 in Boston-Cambridge, a gap of $15,760 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Boston-Cambridge | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH | this area | 37,150 | |
| Barnstable Town, MA | -4.0% | 760 | |
| Worcester, MA | -6.1% | 3,090 | |
| Massachusetts (Nonmetro) | -6.8% | 310 | |
| Springfield, MA | -8.1% | 1,720 | |
| Pittsfield, MA | -15.5% | 480 | |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | -15.7% | 490 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH?
About $143,071 a year at the median, or $11,923 a month: $100,150 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in Boston-Cambridge?
The median was $100,150 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $72,450, the 90th $161,450, and the middle half earned $79,990 to $129,490.
Is Boston-Cambridge the most expensive area in Massachusetts for accountants?
Yes. Its median of $100,150 is the highest of 7 areas in Massachusetts. Barnstable Town comes next at $96,110.
How many accountants work in Boston-Cambridge?
BLS counts about 37,150 in the May 2025 survey.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in Boston-Cambridge?
Yes: $9,880 a year more at the median. The medians are $100,150 and $90,270.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.