HR Assistant salary and cost of hiring in Massachusetts
The median HR assistant in Massachusetts earned $55,840 a year in May 2025[1], 10.3% above the US median of $50,610. That puts Massachusetts at #7 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-4161. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $42,970 | $55,840 | $71,130 | |
| United States | $37,340 | $50,610 | $68,280 |
The middle half of HR assistants in Massachusetts earns $48,160–$63,810; the top tenth earns $71,130 or more, 1.7 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Massachusetts median that makes about $79,771 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for HR assistants 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].
Pay by metro area in Massachusetts
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $64,860 | 1,150 | |
| Springfield, MA | $60,300 | 80 | |
| Worcester, MA | $59,090 | 120 |
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH pays the most ($57,440) and Worcester, MA the least ($49,850): $7,590 a year apart for the same job.
What an HR assistant does
An HR assistant runs the admin side of people work: job posts, interview scheduling, onboarding paperwork, employee records and HR questions.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | +1.2% | |
| Rhode Island | +0.9% | |
| Massachusetts | +0.0% | |
| Colorado | -1.7% | |
| Minnesota | -2.4% |
Questions
How much does an HR assistant earn in Massachusetts?
The median was $55,840 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $48,160 to $63,810.
What does it cost to employ an HR assistant in Massachusetts?
About $79,771 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Massachusetts do HR assistants earn the most?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, with a median of $57,440 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4161: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434161.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.