Cost of hiring a marketing specialist in Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH
No other area in Massachusetts pays marketing specialists more than Boston-Cambridge: the median is $102,390 a year[1]. That is about level with the Massachusetts statewide median of $101,810, and 30.0% above the US median of $78,760. Only 2 of 516 US areas pay more for this job. With about 32,310 marketing specialists, no area in Massachusetts employs more.
BLS occupation 13-1161, 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 | $59,730 | $102,390 | $167,440 | |
| Massachusetts | $58,090 | $101,810 | $166,970 | |
| United States | $43,390 | $78,760 | $155,480 |
The middle half of marketing specialists in Boston-Cambridge earns $78,060–$134,140. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $167,440, only 2.8 times the bottom tenth, against 3.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read.
What to budget for a marketing specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $59,730 | $4,978 | $28.72 | $85,329 |
| 25th percentile | $78,060 | $6,505 | $37.53 | $111,514 |
| Median | $102,390 | $8,532 | $49.23 | $146,271 |
| 75th percentile | $134,140 | $11,178 | $64.49 | $191,629 |
| 90th percentile | $167,440 | $13,953 | $80.50 | $239,200 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $31,750 a year in pay and about $45,357 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $24,330 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 $102,390 median, a local hire costs about $146,271 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $43,881 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 marketing specialists 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 #2 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $114,990 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $43,930.
| Role | Median | vs marketing specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +12.3% | 18,840 | |
| Marketing Specialist | this role | 32,310 | |
| Accountant | -2.2% | 37,150 | |
| Recruiter | -11.8% | 21,770 | |
| Executive Assistant | -16.7% | 11,290 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -18.5% | 25,310 | |
| Paralegal | -22.0% | 6,300 | |
| Office Manager | -23.8% | 25,630 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -34.6% | 2,500 | |
| Bookkeeper | -40.5% | 21,170 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -42.1% | 28,540 | |
| HR Assistant | -43.9% | 1,150 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -46.2% | 1,100 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -49.6% | 16,330 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -51.2% | 37,780 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -53.5% | 1,460 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -57.1% | 14,320 |
Other areas in Massachusetts
Across the 7 areas of Massachusetts with data for this job, the median runs from $72,550 in Amherst Town-Northampton to $102,390 in Boston-Cambridge, a gap of $29,840 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Boston-Cambridge | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH | this area | 32,310 | |
| Worcester, MA | -11.8% | 2,030 | |
| Springfield, MA | -16.0% | 1,050 | |
| Massachusetts (Nonmetro) | -21.1% | 210 | |
| Barnstable Town, MA | -22.7% | 440 | |
| Pittsfield, MA | -25.8% | 300 | |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | -29.1% | 350 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a marketing specialist in Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH?
About $146,271 a year at the median, or $12,189 a month: $102,390 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 marketing specialists earn in Boston-Cambridge?
The median was $102,390 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $59,730, the 90th $167,440, and the middle half earned $78,060 to $134,140.
Is Boston-Cambridge the most expensive area in Massachusetts for marketing specialists?
Yes. Its median of $102,390 is the highest of 7 areas in Massachusetts. Worcester comes next at $90,300.
How many marketing specialists work in Boston-Cambridge?
BLS counts about 32,310 in the May 2025 survey.
Does a marketing specialist cost more than an accountant in Boston-Cambridge?
Yes: $2,240 a year more at the median. The medians are $102,390 and $100,150.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1161: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes131161.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 2026-11-06.