What to Pay a Registered Nurse in Boston, MA (2026)
How to set your RN pay range in Boston
Three pay positions, modeled against current Boston market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
RN salary percentile distribution in Boston, MA
Where the Boston market actually sits for RN base pay.
Most Boston employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($118,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $105,000 and a max of $135,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
Massachusetts pay transparency compliance for RN job postings
What you must post when hiring a RN in Massachusetts.
| Requirement | Applies When | Penalty for Non-Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| Pay range in job posting | 25+ employees; role in MA | Civil fine up to $500 first violation; up to $1,000 subsequent |
| Provide pay range to applicants on request | All covered employers | Same schedule |
For a RN role in Boston, a compliant good-faith range looks like $105,000 to $135,000. A compliant range for this role in Boston is $105,000–$135,000.
Top RN employers in Boston — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring RNs in the Boston metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass General Brigham | Academic medical center system | $115K–$148K | Common ($8K–$15K) |
| Beth Israel Lahey Health | Health system | $112K–$145K | Very common ($12K–$22K) |
| Tufts Medicine | Academic medical center | $110K–$142K | Common ($8K–$15K) |
| Boston Medical Center | Safety-net hospital | $108K–$138K | Common ($8K–$15K) |
| Boston Children's Hospital | Pediatric specialty | $112K–$145K | Common ($8K–$15K) |
| Steward Health Care | Health system | $105K–$135K | Very common ($12K–$22K) |
RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Boston
How hard is it to fill a RN role in Boston.
Boston's RN market is anchored by Mass General Brigham, Beth Israel Lahey, and Tufts — academic medical center demand pushes specialty pay 12–18% above general med-surg. Massachusetts's 2025 pay transparency law has tightened ranges across the metro.
Skill premiums RN candidates command in Boston, MA
| Skill / Credential | Pay Premium | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|
| CCRN (Critical Care RN) | +8–12% | Very high |
| CEN (Emergency RN) | +7–11% | Very high |
| CNOR (Perioperative) | +8–12% | Very high |
| Pediatric certifications (CPN, CCRN-P) | +6–10% | Very high — Boston Children's |
| BSN (vs ADN) | +5–8% | Standard at Magnet hospitals |
RN total compensation in Boston — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for RNs in Boston. "Prevalence" reflects share of Boston disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Boston Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $118,000 (median) | 100% |
| Shift differential | +14–22% premium | ~90% |
| Sign-on bonus | $8,000–$22,000 | ~74% |
| Certification pay | +7–12% premium | ~62% |
| Overtime opportunity | $8K–$16K annualized | ~88% |
| Tuition reimbursement | $3,000–$6,000/yr | ~64% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$145K–$172K | — |
Shift differentials and sign-on bonuses are typically table stakes rather than differentiators. Tuition reimbursement for LPN-to-RN bridge programs is increasingly the lever that wins competitive offers, particularly for early-career candidates.
RN pay by setting in Boston — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the RN range splits by employer type in the Boston metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute-care hospital (med-surg) | $115,000 | $102K–$132K | Above national avg |
| ICU / Critical care | $132,000 | $118K–$152K | Very high |
| Emergency department | $128,000 | $115K–$148K | Very high |
| OR / Perioperative | $130,000 | $115K–$150K | Very high |
| Pediatric (Boston Children's) | $128,000 | $115K–$148K | Very high |
| Ambulatory / clinic | $100,000 | $90K–$115K | Moderate |
RN salary in Boston vs. other Massachusetts and nearby metros
What you'd pay if you hired in a nearby metro instead.
| Location | Median Base | vs. Boston | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston–Cambridge–Nashua, MA-NH | $118,000 | — | Above national avg |
| New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $105,000 | −11.0% | Tight |
| Providence–Warwick, RI-MA | $98,000 | −16.9% | Above national avg |
| Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $98,000 | −16.9% | Above national avg |
| Massachusetts statewide | $112,000 | −5.1% | — |
| U.S. national | $93,600 | — | — |
FAQ: hiring a Registered Nurse in Boston, MA
Related RN pay benchmarks — Massachusetts metros and nearby nursing roles
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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.