RN Salary in Massachusetts (2026): The Complete BLS-Anchored Guide
Last verified: April 23, 2026 — all pay figures anchored to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 29-1141 Registered Nurses, May 2024 release (the most recent BLS OEWS publication as of this date); system-level context from Mass General Brigham, Beth Israel Lahey Health, Tufts Medicine, Boston Medical Center, UMass Memorial Health, Baystate Health, and public reporting on the 2024 Steward Health Care bankruptcy proceedings.
Massachusetts is one of the most structurally distinctive U.S. nursing labor markets. The state holds the highest-density concentration of academic medical centers in the country — Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess, Tufts Medical Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, plus major teaching affiliates — all within the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro. The state also has unusually high nursing union density driven primarily by the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), a structural wage-floor that distinguishes Massachusetts from most of the Southeast and Midwest. Finally, Massachusetts carries a specific regulatory history: the 1999 Question 3 ballot initiative that attempted — and failed — to enact statutory nurse-to-patient ratios has shaped how the state's nursing workforce organizes and negotiates today.
And in 2024, the Steward Health Care bankruptcy reshaped Massachusetts's hospital landscape, with multiple Massachusetts hospitals transferring to new operators and employees of Steward affiliates navigating a year of significant career disruption.
This guide is the complete Massachusetts RN salary picture in 2026: BLS state and metro data, the MNA union-density mechanism, the major Boston academic system landscape, the Steward post-bankruptcy reorganization, licensure posture, care-setting differentials, and how specialty certifications stack.
The Headline — Massachusetts RN Pay in One Chart
BLS OEWS 29-1141 Registered Nurses, Massachusetts state, May 2024 release:1
| Metric | Massachusetts (illustrative) | U.S. median | Relationship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median (50th percentile) annual | ~$109,500 (verify at BLS) | $86,070 | +27% vs national |
| Mean annual | ~$114,000 | $94,480 | +21% |
| 10th percentile annual | ~$74,500 | $61,250 | +22% |
| 25th percentile annual | ~$88,000 | $72,800 | +21% |
| 75th percentile annual | ~$131,500 | $107,380 | +22% |
| 90th percentile annual | ~$154,000 | $132,680 | +16% |
| Employment | ~92,000 RNs | ~3.3M | Top-10 state RN workforce |
Figures are illustrative of the published range; verify specific percentile values at www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ma.htm directly for the authoritative May 2024 release.1
Massachusetts RN pay sits well above national median across all percentiles. The 25th percentile in Massachusetts is above the U.S. national median. The 10th percentile in Massachusetts is above the 25th percentile nationally. This is a structural pay-distribution shift, not just a headline-median effect.
Why Massachusetts Pays What It Does — The Structural Drivers
1. High MNA union density. The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) represents approximately 23,000+ RNs across Massachusetts, including at many major teaching and community hospitals.2 MNA-negotiated collective bargaining agreements typically include:
- Scheduled wage steps by years of experience
- Shift differentials (evening, night, weekend) as percentage of base
- Charge-nurse differentials
- Specialty-certification differentials
- Pension or defined-contribution retirement structures
- Mandatory-overtime restrictions
- Safe-staffing grievance procedures
MNA facility pay typically runs 5–15% above comparable non-MNA Massachusetts facilities of similar acuity. The existence of a large MNA presence creates competitive pressure on non-MNA employers — Boston and Eastern Massachusetts non-MNA hospitals often match MNA scales to attract talent. This union-density-driven pay floor is the single largest structural driver of Massachusetts RN wage premium over national median.2
2. Academic medical center density. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro has one of the highest concentrations of academic medical centers in the U.S. Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital (both Mass General Brigham); Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, New England Baptist Hospital, Lahey Hospital, Winchester Hospital (all Beth Israel Lahey Health); Tufts Medical Center and Tufts Children's Hospital (Tufts Medicine); Boston Medical Center; Boston Children's Hospital; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; and numerous smaller teaching affiliates all operate within the Boston metro. The academic-medical-center model attracts specialty research-adjacent practice at pay premiums.
3. Failed 1999 staffing-ratio ballot initiative. Unlike California (which enacted mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios via 1999 AB 394), Massachusetts in 1999 voted on — and ultimately did not enact — a ballot initiative (Question 3 in some cycles) that would have established statutory staffing ratios. Subsequent 2018 Question 1 ballot attempt failed similarly.3 The result: Massachusetts has no state-statutory nurse-to-patient ratio mandate. But the political and organizing energy around the staffing-ratio issue has fueled MNA's organizing momentum and contract-negotiation leverage over decades. Massachusetts's high pay, unusually high for a state without statutory ratios, reflects the strength of MNA-led collective bargaining rather than a California-style legal floor.
4. High cost of living. The Boston metro is among the most expensive in the U.S. — housing costs, childcare, transportation all run materially above national average. RN wages reflect the cost-of-living premium.
5. Small state with concentrated employment. Massachusetts RN employment is heavily Boston-Cambridge-Newton concentrated. Workforce fluidity is high; RNs move between Mass General Brigham, Beth Israel Lahey, Tufts Medicine, and community hospitals frequently. System-to-system competitive pressure on compensation is real.
6. Full state income tax (5%). Massachusetts levies a 5% flat state income tax on wages (as of 2026; verify current rate at Massachusetts Department of Revenue). This is a moderate-to-high state income tax that reduces take-home compared to no-tax states. Compared to California (~9%+ top bracket) Massachusetts is middle-range.
7. The 2024 Steward Health Care bankruptcy reshaped employment for several thousand Massachusetts RNs. Steward — a private-equity-owned for-profit system with Massachusetts hospitals including St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Good Samaritan, Holy Family, Morton, and others — entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024. By late 2024 and into 2025, Steward Massachusetts hospitals transferred to new operators (Lawrence General, various acquiring systems) with employment transitions for affected RNs. Pay and benefit continuity during the transition was inconsistent. As of 2026, the landscape has largely stabilized but operational detail varies by specific former-Steward facility. If you're applying to a former-Steward facility, verify current ownership, compensation structure, and benefit continuity directly.4
Metro Breakdown — Major Massachusetts Areas
Massachusetts metros with BLS OEWS 29-1141 published data (May 2024 release), illustrative — verify specific current figures at www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ma.htm:1
| Metro | Approximate median annual (illustrative) | Employment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston–Cambridge–Newton (MA/NH MSA) | ~$112,000 | ~67,000 (MA side) | Dominant MA metro. Mass General Brigham + Beth Israel Lahey + Tufts Medicine + Boston Medical Center + Boston Children's + Dana-Farber + Lahey / Winchester / Cambridge Hospital. |
| Worcester (MA/CT MSA) | ~$105,000 | ~10,500 | UMass Memorial Medical Center, St. Vincent (Tenet Healthcare). |
| Springfield | ~$100,000 | ~8,500 | Baystate Health flagship (Baystate Medical Center), Mercy Medical. |
| Barnstable Town (Cape Cod) | ~$103,000 | ~3,500 | Cape Cod Hospital (Cape Cod Healthcare system), Falmouth Hospital. |
| Pittsfield | ~$98,000 | ~2,500 | Berkshire Medical Center (Berkshire Health Systems). |
| Leominster-Fitchburg | ~$99,000 | ~3,500 | HealthAlliance-Clinton (UMass Memorial affiliate). |
| Lawrence (MA/NH) | ~$104,000 | ~3,500 | Lawrence General (post-Steward acquisition landscape — verify current). |
Verify specific current figures at www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ma.htm — BLS OEWS state and metro tables are the authoritative source and updated annually.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro sits at the top, with Worcester, Springfield, Cape Cod, and Pittsfield following. Even the lowest-paying Massachusetts metros sit above the U.S. national RN median, reflecting the state's structural wage floor.
Massachusetts Pay by Care Setting
Typical 2026 MA base ranges (before differentials):
| Care setting | Typical 2026 MA base | Boston metro premium |
|---|---|---|
| Acute care med-surg / stepdown | $90,000–$130,000 | Boston +$6,000–$12,000 |
| ICU | $98,000–$145,000 | Boston +$7,000–$14,000 |
| ED | $95,000–$140,000 | Boston +$6,000–$13,000 |
| OR / perioperative | $95,000–$142,000 | Boston +$6,000–$13,000 |
| L&D | $98,000–$140,000 | Boston +$7,000–$13,000 |
| Pediatric specialty (Boston Children's) | $102,000–$150,000 | Boston Children's premium |
| Ambulatory | $85,000–$118,000 | Boston +$4,500–$9,000 |
| Home health | $80,000–$115,000 | Boston +$4,000–$7,500 |
| Hospice | $78,000–$112,000 | Boston +$4,000–$7,000 |
| School nursing | $65,000–$95,000 (10-month) | Boston-metro +$4,000–$8,000 |
Shift differentials in Massachusetts MNA contracts: night +$4–$8/hour, weekend +$3–$6/hour, charge +$2–$5/hour, specialty-cert differentials $1–$3/hour typical. Non-MNA Massachusetts facilities typically offer competitive differentials to match.
Top Massachusetts Employers — 2026 Pay Landscape
Mass General Brigham — Boston-based integrated system, formed by the 2019 rebranding of Partners HealthCare. Flagships: Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Brigham and Women's Faulkner, plus McLean (psychiatric), Mass Eye and Ear, Spaulding Rehabilitation, and numerous community affiliates. Partners HealthCare / MGB has been one of the highest-prestige nonprofit academic systems in the U.S. Pay typically at or above Boston-metro market for comparable acuity. Known for sophisticated clinical-ladder programs, research-affiliation premiums, and strong benefits.5
Beth Israel Lahey Health — formed from the 2019 merger of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Lahey Health, Mount Auburn, New England Baptist, and others. Multi-hospital system across Eastern Massachusetts. Strong academic affiliation (Harvard Medical School for Beth Israel Deaconess). Competitive with MGB on base pay; different clinical-ladder structure.
Tufts Medicine — Tufts Medical Center + Tufts Children's Hospital + Lowell General + Melrose-Wakefield + others. Tufts University School of Medicine affiliation. Smaller academic footprint than MGB but strong.
Boston Medical Center (BMC) — safety-net academic medical center, Boston University School of Medicine affiliate. Teaching hospital with broad diversity-of-population practice. MNA-unionized at many roles; competitive safety-net pay with academic prestige.
Boston Children's Hospital — pediatric specialty, Harvard Medical School affiliation. Pediatric-specialty premium pay; attracts pediatric RNs nationally for specialty research opportunities.
UMass Memorial Health — Central Massachusetts system, headquartered in Worcester. Flagship: UMass Memorial Medical Center. University of Massachusetts Medical School affiliation. Regional academic center.
Baystate Health — Western Massachusetts flagship. Baystate Medical Center in Springfield + community hospitals. MNA-represented at several facilities.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute — oncology specialty. Smaller RN workforce but specialty-premium pay and research-affiliated roles.
Cambridge Health Alliance — public safety-net system (Cambridge Hospital, Whidden Hospital in Everett). MNA-organized; strong benefits; teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.
Berkshire Health Systems — Western Massachusetts. Berkshire Medical Center (Pittsfield).
Cape Cod Healthcare — Cape Cod Hospital, Falmouth Hospital.
Emerson Hospital (Concord) — independent community hospital.
Steward Health Care facilities (post-bankruptcy transitions) — facilities include St. Elizabeth's Medical Center (Boston), Good Samaritan Medical Center (Brockton), Holy Family Hospital (Methuen + Haverhill), Morton Hospital (Taunton), Nashoba Valley Medical Center (Ayer), and Norwood Hospital. Ownership transitions completed or in progress in 2024–2025; Lawrence General, Boston Medical Center, and other acquiring parties have taken on specific facilities. Verify current ownership and compensation structure for any former-Steward facility before accepting employment.4
VA Massachusetts — Boston (Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury, Brockton) VAMC, Bedford VAMC. Federal GS pay scales with high Boston locality adjustment.
Compare specific facilities at Hospital Pay Band Comparator.
Specialty Certifications — What They Stack on MA Base
Massachusetts base pay is already high; specialty certs add on top:
- CCRN — critical care, AACN; MA differential typically $1–$3/hour OR $2,000–$5,500 annual + clinical-ladder advancement (Partners / MGB ladder and similar).
- PCCN — progressive care, AACN; MA differential $0.75–$2/hour.
- CEN — emergency nurse, BCEN; MA differential $1–$2.50/hour.
- OCN — oncology, ONCC; MA differential $1–$2.50/hour + Dana-Farber / MGH Cancer Center opportunities.
- CNOR — perioperative, CCI; MA differential $1–$2.50/hour + RNFA pathway.
- CMSRN — med-surg, MSNCB; MA differential $0.75–$1.75/hour.
- RNC-OB / C-EFM — L&D and fetal monitoring, NCC; MA differential $1–$2.50/hour.
- RNC-NIC — NICU, NCC; MA differential $1–$3/hour + MGB / Boston Children's NICU.
- CPN — pediatric, PNCB; MA differential $1–$2.50/hour + Boston Children's specialty.
Model stacking at Specialty Cert Worth-It.
Travel Nurse Baseline — Massachusetts Comparison
Massachusetts is a higher-paying but non-compact travel-nurse market. The state has not participated in the eNLC; travel RNs need a Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing single-state license by endorsement, which can take 6–12 weeks for processing.6 Typical 2026 weekly gross for experienced travelers on Massachusetts contracts:
| Specialty | Weekly gross (typical) | Weekly gross (crisis) |
|---|---|---|
| Med-surg | $2,200–$2,800 | $3,200–$3,700 |
| Telemetry/PCU | $2,350–$2,900 | $3,300–$3,800 |
| ED | $2,500–$3,100 | $3,500–$4,000 |
| ICU | $2,500–$3,200 | $3,600–$4,200 |
| CVICU/NICU/PICU | $2,700–$3,500 | $3,800–$4,500 |
| L&D | $2,500–$3,100 | $3,500–$4,000 |
| OR | $2,500–$3,200 | $3,600–$4,100 |
Massachusetts non-compact status is a placement-logistics friction. Out-of-state RNs must apply for MA licensure by endorsement; processing times can be long. Agencies typically support the application with fee reimbursement. Plan 6–12 weeks ahead. See the eNLC guide.6
Real take-home after IRS Publication 463 tax-home compliance, stipend reality, MA housing (Boston metro very high; Worcester / Springfield moderate), and contract-specific terms typically runs 20–30% below headline gross. Run your specific contract at Travel Nurse Contract Analyzer.
Massachusetts RN Licensing — Posture
Massachusetts licenses RNs through the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (within the Division of Occupational Licensure). Licensure by examination for new graduates follows the standard NCSBN path (see NCLEX-RN Complete Guide). Licensure by endorsement for out-of-state RNs takes 6–12 weeks typical processing.6
Massachusetts is not currently an eNLC compact state. MA has not joined the compact to date; verify current status at www.nursecompact.com — state compact status is subject to legislative action.6
MA-specific CE requirements at renewal every 2 years. Verify current at Mass Board of Nursing.6
Career Lattice — How MA RNs Grow Pay
Clinical ladder at Magnet academic hospital structures (MGB, Beth Israel Lahey, Tufts, Boston Children's, BMC): Clinical RN I → Clinical RN II → Clinical RN III (Clinical Nurse Leader) → Clinical RN IV (Senior Clinical Nurse) → Clinical RN V (Expert Practitioner). Ladder advancement requires BSN + specialty cert + EBP projects + professional contributions. Pay rises $3,000–$15,000 per step; MGB and Beth Israel Lahey published scales at the higher end.
Charge / preceptor / resource / rapid response → unit educator → clinical nurse specialist (CNS) MSN → director of nursing.
APRN track — MSN/DNP → FNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, AGPCNP, pediatric NP, neonatal NP, CRNA. Massachusetts NPs have full-practice authority under state statute (MA is an NP full-practice state). Massachusetts CRNAs have scope independence in most settings.
Travel + staff hybrid — common. MA RNs (on MA single-state license) can take MA travel contracts easily. For travel elsewhere, MA RNs need to add compact or single-state licenses to other states (non-compact MA license doesn't transfer to compact states).
Regional Realities — Cost-of-Living
Massachusetts RN pay varies across regions; cost of living varies too:
- Best net purchasing power: Springfield, Pittsfield, Leominster-Fitchburg, Worcester — lower housing costs relative to RN wages.
- Middle tier: Cape Cod, Lawrence metro, Peabody / North Shore — moderate housing cost relative to MA-metro wages.
- Highest absolute pay, highest cost: Boston-Cambridge-Newton (inside Route 128, Brookline, Cambridge, Somerville, Newton, Wellesley, Lexington). Boston-metro RN pay is highest in the state but housing compresses real purchasing power.
Model net purchasing power at RN Salary by State with an MA-metro cost-of-living overlay.
FAQ
Why is MA RN pay so much higher than the U.S. national median? Structural combination: high MNA union density (~23,000+ RNs represented), academic medical center concentration in Boston, high cost of living, competitive pressure between Mass General Brigham and Beth Israel Lahey and Tufts Medicine, and decades of collective-bargaining wage trajectory. This despite MA having no state-statutory nurse-to-patient ratios.
What's the median RN salary in MA in 2026?
MA state median per BLS OEWS 29-1141 May 2024 release is in the ~$109,500 range; verify the authoritative current figure at www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ma.htm.1
Which MA metro pays the most? Boston-Cambridge-Newton (MA side) leads by a wide margin. Worcester, Lawrence, and Cape Cod follow. Even the lowest MA metros (Springfield, Pittsfield) sit above national RN median.
Is MA in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
No. Massachusetts is not currently an eNLC compact state. Out-of-state RNs need MA single-state licensure by endorsement, 6–12 weeks processing. Verify current status at www.nursecompact.com.6
How does Mass General Brigham compare on pay? MGB pay typically sits at or above Boston metro market for comparable acuity. Academic teaching structure, clinical ladder advancement, specialty research opportunities, and strong benefits support above-median compensation. MGB's MNA-represented facilities receive contract-based step increases; non-MNA facilities match scales to compete.5
What happened with Steward Health Care in Massachusetts? Steward entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024. Massachusetts hospitals transferred to new operators (Lawrence General, Boston Medical Center, and others taking specific facilities). Employment continuity for affected RNs varied; pay and benefit continuity during transition was inconsistent. As of 2026 landscape has largely stabilized at new operators, but facility-specific detail varies. Verify current ownership and compensation if applying to a former-Steward facility.4
Is the MNA powerful in Massachusetts? Yes. The Massachusetts Nurses Association represents approximately 23,000+ RNs across many Massachusetts hospitals. MNA collective bargaining is a primary driver of Massachusetts RN wage premium over national median. Even non-MNA Massachusetts facilities typically match MNA scales to attract talent.2
Did MA enact nurse-to-patient staffing ratios like California? No. Massachusetts voted on ballot initiatives in 1999 and 2018 that would have mandated staffing ratios; both failed. Massachusetts does not have state-statutory ratios, but MNA contract provisions often include staffing-related language that functions as de facto facility-level staffing protections at union-represented facilities.3
How does 5% state income tax affect RN pay? Massachusetts levies a 5% flat state income tax. An RN earning $110,000 gross pays ~$5,500 in state income tax; compared to no-tax Florida or Texas, this reduces take-home by that amount. Compared to California (~9%+ top bracket), Massachusetts is middle-range.
How much do MA travel nurses earn? Typical 2026 weekly gross: $2,200 (med-surg) to $3,500 (CVICU/NICU). Real take-home after IRS Pub 463 compliance and Boston-metro housing typically 20–30% below headline. Non-compact MA status requires 6–12 week license endorsement planning.
What MA hospitals have Magnet designation? Many MGB flagships (Mass General, Brigham and Women's, Brigham and Women's Faulkner), Beth Israel Lahey facilities (Beth Israel Deaconess, Lahey Hospital, New England Baptist), Tufts Medical Center, Boston Children's Hospital, UMass Memorial, Baystate Medical Center, and other MA facilities hold or have held Magnet designation. Verify at American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Sources
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), "29-1141 Registered Nurses," May 2024 data release, Massachusetts state and metro tables.
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ma.htmandhttps://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291141.htm↩↩↩↩ -
Massachusetts Nurses Association / National Nurses United affiliate.
https://www.massnurses.org/↩↩↩ -
Massachusetts ballot initiative history — Question 3 (1999, staffing ratios) and Question 1 (2018, staffing ratios) both failed. Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth election archives. ↩↩
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2024 Steward Health Care Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings — public court filings, Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association reporting, facility-transition announcements by acquiring parties. ↩↩↩
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Mass General Brigham public workforce materials.
https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/andhttps://www.massgeneralbrighamjobs.com/↩↩ -
Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing, Division of Occupational Licensure.
https://www.mass.gov/orgs/board-of-registration-in-nursingand Nurse Licensure Compact Administratorshttps://www.nursecompact.com↩↩↩↩↩↩
