Amherst Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Amherst, MA: $27.42/hr median hourly wage, $57,030 median annual salary, cost of living index 136.9, and $15.00/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Massachusetts taxes.
Amherst Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Amherst, MA is $27.42/hr,and the median annual wage is $57,030. Entry-level pay estimates around $17.00/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $38.94/hr, and the local minimum wage is $15.00/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Amherst Town-Northampton, MA metropolitan statistical area (65,670 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Amherst shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$57,030
$27.42/hr
Cost of Living
136.9
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$15.00
per hour
Unemployment
3.8%
rate
Amherst, MA Overview
Population
39,263
Median Salary
$57,030
Average Salary
$70,730
Avg Commute
16 min
Median Home Price
$497,000
Median Rent
$2,008/mo
Job Growth
+2.3%
Sales Tax
6.25%
Amherst is located in Massachusetts with a population of 39,263. The median annual wage across all occupations is $57,030 ($27.42/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Amherst Town-Northampton, MA metro), which is $6,050 above the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 16 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +2.3%.
Amherst Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Amherst, MA built around the $57,030 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Amherst Town-Northampton, MA metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $35,359 | $17.00/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $57,030 | $27.42/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $80,983 | $38.94/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $101,513 | $48.81/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Amherst Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Amherst, MA, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$45,152
$3,762.68/month · $1,736.62/biweekly · Effective Rate: 20.8%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,736.62 take-home per paycheck after estimated Massachusetts and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$57,030
Federal Tax
-$4,664
State Tax
-$2,852
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$4,363
Net Pay
$45,152
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,752.50 | $57,030.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$388.63 | -$4,663.60 |
| Massachusetts State Tax (5.00% eff.) | -$237.63 | -$2,851.50 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$294.66 | -$3,535.86 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$68.91 | -$826.94 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,762.68 | $45,152.10 |
Salary Comparison: Amherst vs Other Cities
See how Amherst's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst, MA | $57,030 | 136.9 | $41,658 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Northampton, MA | $57,030 | 132.1 | $43,172 |
| St. Petersburg, FL | $57,000 | 100 | $57,000 |
| Portland, ME | $56,960 | 118 | $48,271 |
| Austin, TX | $56,950 | 110 | $51,773 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Amherst
Amherst's cost of living index is 136.9 (national average = 100). Living in Amherst is 36.900000000000006% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$497,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,008
Annual Rent Cost
$24,096
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $45,152 annual take-home pay in Amherst has the purchasing power of approximately $32,982 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $78,074 in Amherst to match a $57,030 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in Amherst
Amherst's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $57,030.
Salary Tips for Amherst Workers
- Negotiate for cost of living. Amherst has a cost of living 36.900000000000006% above the national average. When negotiating salary, factor in the higher housing and living costs to ensure your real purchasing power stays competitive.
- Maximize pre-tax deductions. With a top 9% state income tax rate, maximizing 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026) and HSA contributions can significantly reduce both your federal and state tax burden.
- Research top industries. Amherst's top industries include Biotech, Education, Finance. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $57,030 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Amherst salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Amherst Town-Northampton, MA metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Amherst indexed at 136.9.
- Median salary: $57,030 annual, $27.42 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Amherst Town-Northampton, MA MSA (65,670 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $70,730 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Amherst was $61,029.
- Tax burden reflects Massachusetts 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 9%) (no local income tax), sales tax (6.25%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Amherst: 3.8%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Biotech, Education, Finance, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2.3% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Massachusetts.
- Housing context: median home price $497,000, median rent $2,008/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Amherst, MA:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Amherst unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Amherst QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Massachusetts, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Amherst's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Massachusetts labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Amherst, MA?
The median hourly wage in Amherst, MA is $27.42 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Amherst Town-Northampton, MA metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $57,030. Entry-level workers are estimated around $17.00/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $38.94/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Amherst, MA?
The median salary in Amherst, MA is $57,030 per year, or $27.42 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Amherst Town-Northampton, MA metro area). The BLS mean salary is $70,730. This is $6,050 above the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Amherst, MA?
Amherst's cost of living index is 136.9 (national average = 100), meaning it is 36.900000000000006% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $497,000 and the median monthly rent is $2,008.
What are the best industries in Amherst?
The top industries in Amherst, MA include Biotech, Education, Finance. The city has a job growth rate of 2.3% and an unemployment rate of 3.8%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $57,030.
How does Amherst's salary compare to other cities?
Amherst's median salary of $57,030 is 11.9% above the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 136.9), the real purchasing power is approximately $41,658.
What is the minimum wage in Amherst, MA?
The minimum wage in Amherst, MA is $15.00 per hour. This equals approximately $31,200 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $7.75 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.