Cost of hiring a customer support specialist in Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH
Boston-Cambridge is the most expensive place in Massachusetts to hire a customer support specialist. The median is $49,920 a year[1], 1.6% above the Massachusetts statewide median of $49,120 and 11.5% above the US median of $44,770. Only 12 of 520 US areas pay more for this job. It is the largest market for the job in Massachusetts: about 37,780 people.
BLS occupation 43-4051, 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 | $35,720 | $49,920 | $75,950 | |
| Massachusetts | $35,440 | $49,120 | $74,880 | |
| United States | $31,750 | $44,770 | $63,590 |
Customer support specialists at the 90th percentile earn $75,950, 2.1 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of customer support specialists in Boston-Cambridge earns $42,760–$62,040.
What to budget for a customer support specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,720 | $2,977 | $17.17 | $51,029 |
| 25th percentile | $42,760 | $3,563 | $20.56 | $61,086 |
| Median | $49,920 | $4,160 | $24.00 | $71,314 |
| 75th percentile | $62,040 | $5,170 | $29.83 | $88,629 |
| 90th percentile | $75,950 | $6,329 | $36.51 | $108,500 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $12,120 a year in pay and about $17,314 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $7,160 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 $49,920 median, a local hire costs about $71,314 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $21,394 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
Our open customer support specialist roles pay $700–$1,000 a month under a direct contract. The one-time fee is $2,500–$3,000[3] with a 180-day replacement; paying through Deel adds $49 a month[4]. Change any number below to match your plan.
For the $71,314 a local hire costs here, you could cover about 5.4 remote hires in year one at the midpoint of our range. From year two the fee drops out and the remote figure is $10,788. About the candidates: most apply through our Telegram bot with a written and a voice English task; each profile shows the English level (B1–C2); Silkstaff checks English on a live call before any client interview.
Other roles in Boston-Cambridge
Of the 17 roles we track in Boston-Cambridge, this one ranks #15 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $114,990 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $43,930.
| Role | Median | vs customer support specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +130.3% | 18,840 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +105.1% | 32,310 | |
| Accountant | +100.6% | 37,150 | |
| Recruiter | +80.8% | 21,770 | |
| Executive Assistant | +70.8% | 11,290 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +67.1% | 25,310 | |
| Paralegal | +60.0% | 6,300 | |
| Office Manager | +56.2% | 25,630 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +34.1% | 2,500 | |
| Bookkeeper | +22.1% | 21,170 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +18.9% | 28,540 | |
| HR Assistant | +15.1% | 1,150 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +10.4% | 1,100 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +3.4% | 16,330 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | this role | 37,780 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -4.6% | 1,460 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -12.0% | 14,320 |
Other areas in Massachusetts
Across the 7 areas of Massachusetts with data for this job, the median runs from $43,560 in Amherst Town-Northampton to $49,920 in Boston-Cambridge, a gap of $6,360 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Boston-Cambridge | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH | this area | 37,780 | |
| Massachusetts (Nonmetro) | -3.4% | 430 | |
| Barnstable Town, MA | -4.1% | 1,310 | |
| Worcester, MA | -4.8% | 4,740 | |
| Springfield, MA | -6.3% | 2,930 | |
| Pittsfield, MA | -10.6% | 680 | |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | -12.7% | 760 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a customer support specialist in Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH?
About $71,314 a year at the median, or $5,943 a month: $49,920 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 customer support specialists earn in Boston-Cambridge?
The median was $49,920 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,720, the 90th $75,950, and the middle half earned $42,760 to $62,040.
Is Boston-Cambridge the most expensive area in Massachusetts for customer support specialists?
Yes. Its median of $49,920 is the highest of 7 areas in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts nonmetro area comes next at $48,200.
How many customer support specialists work in Boston-Cambridge?
BLS counts about 37,780 in the May 2025 survey.
Does a customer support specialist cost more than a data entry specialist in Boston-Cambridge?
Yes: $2,280 a year more at the median. The medians are $49,920 and $47,640.
What does a remote customer support specialist cost compared with Boston-Cambridge?
Our open roles pay $700–$1,000 a month. At the midpoint, with the one-time fee and Deel, year one comes to $13,288, against about $71,314 for a local hire at the median.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434051.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.