Registered Nurses in Massachusetts. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Registered Nurses in Massachusetts earned a median annual wage of $101,970 in 2024, about 8% above the US median of $94,511. That gap is real, but it narrows once you account for what things cost here. Massachusetts has a cost-of-living index of 109.6, meaning expenses run roughly 10% higher than the national baseline. Adjusted for that, the state median lands closer to $93,000 in national-baseline dollars, just under the US figure.
The spread across earners is wide. Nurses at the 10th percentile earned $76,950, while those at the 90th earned $173,590. Top earners made about 2.3 times what the lowest-paid group did. The mean annual wage of $112,610 sits well above the median, which tells us a smaller group of high earners, likely those in specialized or supervisory roles, pull the average up.
With 90,190 registered nurses employed across the state, Massachusetts runs one of the larger nursing workforces in the country relative to its population. The Boston metro and its dense concentration of academic medical centers, teaching hospitals, and specialty clinics are a significant part of that. Those settings tend to pay more and tend to hire more nurses per patient than community hospitals do.
BLS projects nursing employment to grow 4.9% nationally between 2024 and 2034, an average rate of change by their classification. Massachusetts data does not show a state-specific projection in this release, so the national figure is the closest benchmark we have for planning purposes.
Salary distribution
Where Massachusetts registered nurses fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $87,460 and $136,110, with a median of $104,550.
Registered Nurses in Massachusetts: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 28 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $94,536. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 8 | $79,987 |
| Level II — qualified | 17 | $94,806 |
| Level III — experienced | 2 | $122,715 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $112,320 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Registered Nurses in Massachusetts. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| The General Hospital Corporation | Registered Nurse, Burn ICU | 9 | $112,882 |
| Hebrew Rehabilitation Center | RN,BSN/Clinical Instructors | 5 | $91,104 |
| BRN Corporation | Registered Nurse | 3 | $94,266 |
| Codman Square Health Center | RN Case Manager - HIV and Prep | 2 | $70,000 |
| Greenstaff Medical Staffing LLC | Operating Room Registered Nurse | 2 | $94,266 |
| Stone Institute & Home for Aged People | Registered Nurse | 2 | $82,067 |
| Caregigs LLC | Registered Nurse | 1 | $76,773 |
| Children's Hospital Corporation | Staff Nurse II | 1 | $132,173 |
| Christopher House, Inc. | RN/Infection Preventionist | 1 | $94,806 |
| Gateway Health Technologies, Inc. | Registered Nurse (Preceptor) | 1 | $94,266 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- RN/Infection Preventionist at Christopher House, Inc.$94,806WorcesterWage Level IIDecided Mar 27, 2026I-200-26079-719115
- Registered Nurse, Burn ICU at The General Hospital Corporation$99,665BostonWage Level IIDecided Feb 19, 2026I-200-26042-633854
- RN,BSN/Clinical Instructors at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center$113,256RoslindaleWage Level IIIDecided Dec 19, 2025I-200-25348-480930
- Registered Nurse at BRN Corporation$97,406BradfordWage Level IIDecided Aug 15, 2025I-200-25221-232497
- Operating Room Registered Nurse at Greenstaff Medical Staffing LLC$94,266BostonWage Level IIDecided Jun 27, 2025I-200-25171-114690
- Operating Room Registered Nurse at Greenstaff Medical Staffing LLC$94,266MiltonWage Level IIDecided Jun 26, 2025I-200-25170-111199
- Registered Nurse (Preceptor) at Gateway Health Technologies, Inc.$94,266BradfordWage Level IIDecided Jun 26, 2025I-200-25169-107759
- RN Case Manager - HIV and Prep at Codman Square Health Center$70,000DorchesterWage Level IDecided Jun 25, 2025I-200-25168-100037
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Registered Nurses pay by experience level in Massachusetts
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Registered Nurses in Massachusetts, by industry
Median offered wage across 28 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $98,214.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | The General Hospital Corporation | 22 | $98,214 |
| Nonprofit and civic | BRN Corporation | 3 | $94,266 |
| Professional services | Greenstaff Medical Staffing LLC | 3 | $94,266 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Massachusetts over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.6 / 5
Psychology
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Deductive Reasoning
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Social Perceptiveness
Technical
- 4.1 / 5
Problem Sensitivity
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
- 02
Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
- 03
Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- 04
Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
- 05
Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
- 06
Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
- 07
Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.
- 08
Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.9%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Massachusetts
Metro-level salary data for registered nurses in major Massachusetts metropolitan areas.
- Boston$106,180
Compare Registered Nurses pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Massachusetts with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Registered Nurses in Massachusetts?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Registered Nurses in Massachusetts is $104,550.
- How does Massachusetts compare to the national median for Registered Nurses?
- The Massachusetts median is +6.3% versus the BLS national figure of $98,331.
- What is the salary range for Registered Nurses in Massachusetts?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $80,310 and the 90th-percentile at $174,510, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Registered Nurses a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.9% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Registered Nurses?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.