Cost of hiring a sales development representative in Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH
No other area in Massachusetts pays sales development representatives more than Boston-Cambridge: the median is $83,420 a year[1]. That is about level with the Massachusetts statewide median of $83,760, and 19.2% above the US median of $69,990. Nationally that is #7 of 520 areas, in the top tenth. It is the largest market for the job in Massachusetts: about 25,310 people.
BLS occupation 41-3091, 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 | $49,990 | $83,420 | $164,020 | |
| Massachusetts | $48,030 | $83,760 | $162,330 | |
| United States | $37,980 | $69,990 | $148,840 |
The middle half of sales development representatives in Boston-Cambridge earns $63,420–$124,180. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $164,020, only 3.3 times the bottom tenth, against 3.9 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. The mean ($99,370) is 19% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median.
What to budget for a sales development representative here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,990 | $4,166 | $24.03 | $71,414 |
| 25th percentile | $63,420 | $5,285 | $30.49 | $90,600 |
| Median | $83,420 | $6,952 | $40.11 | $119,171 |
| 75th percentile | $124,180 | $10,348 | $59.70 | $177,400 |
| 90th percentile | $164,020 | $13,668 | $78.86 | $234,314 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $20,000 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $40,760, or about $58,229 once benefits are added. 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 $83,420 median, a local hire costs about $119,171 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $35,751 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 sales development representatives 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 #6 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $114,990 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $43,930.
| Role | Median | vs sales development representative | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +37.8% | 18,840 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +22.7% | 32,310 | |
| Accountant | +20.1% | 37,150 | |
| Recruiter | +8.2% | 21,770 | |
| Executive Assistant | +2.2% | 11,290 | |
| Sales Development Representative | this role | 25,310 | |
| Paralegal | -4.3% | 6,300 | |
| Office Manager | -6.5% | 25,630 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -19.8% | 2,500 | |
| Bookkeeper | -26.9% | 21,170 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -28.9% | 28,540 | |
| HR Assistant | -31.1% | 1,150 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -34.0% | 1,100 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -38.1% | 16,330 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -40.2% | 37,780 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -42.9% | 1,460 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -47.3% | 14,320 |
Other areas in Massachusetts
Across the 7 areas of Massachusetts with data for this job, the median runs from $65,090 in Barnstable Town to $83,420 in Boston-Cambridge, a gap of $18,330 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Boston-Cambridge | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH | this area | 25,310 | |
| Pittsfield, MA | -4.7% | 350 | |
| Worcester, MA | -7.2% | 2,180 | |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | -10.4% | 250 | |
| Massachusetts (Nonmetro) | -12.7% | 200 | |
| Springfield, MA | -16.3% | 870 | |
| Barnstable Town, MA | -22.0% | 570 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a sales development representative in Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH?
About $119,171 a year at the median, or $9,931 a month: $83,420 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 is the pay range for sales development representatives in Boston-Cambridge?
The median was $83,420 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $49,990, the 90th $164,020, and the middle half earned $63,420 to $124,180.
Is Boston-Cambridge the most expensive area in Massachusetts for sales development representatives?
Yes. Its median of $83,420 is the highest of 7 areas in Massachusetts. Pittsfield comes next at $79,530.
How many sales development representatives work in Boston-Cambridge?
BLS counts about 25,310 in the May 2025 survey.
Does a sales development representative cost more than a paralegal in Boston-Cambridge?
Yes: $3,570 a year more at the median. The medians are $83,420 and $79,850.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 41-3091: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes413091.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.