Police Officer Salary in Boston, MA — 2026
Police Officer salary data for Boston, MA — adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.
The median Police Officer salary in Boston, MA is $98,800 per year ($8,233/month, $48/hr). This reflects the local cost of living index of 152, which is 52% above the national average.
Also known as: Patrol Officer, Law Enforcement Officer, Cop. Salary data on this page applies to all of these job titles in Boston, MA.
Police Officer Take-Home Pay in Boston
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $98,800 |
| Federal Tax | -$12,906 |
| State Tax (5.0%) | -$4,940 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$7,558 |
| Annual Take-Home | $73,396 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $6,116 |
Living Cost Comparison
Police Officer Requirements
Key Skills
Police Officer salary search terms in Boston
People comparing Police Officer pay in Boston, MA may use related job-title wording. Salario keeps the main estimate tied to the Police Officer role, then treats the terms below as comparison phrases that should be checked for licensing, employer type, seniority, and role scope.
| Comparison point | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Primary local answer | $98,800 median salary, $71,440-$130,720 modeled range, and $73,396 estimated take-home pay in Boston. |
| Title variants | Patrol Officer, Law Enforcement Officer, Cop can point to similar searches, but some variants may represent a narrower specialty or a higher/lower seniority band. |
| Offer comparison | Compare base salary, hourly equivalent, take-home pay, certifications, local cost of living, and whether the job is employee, contractor, public-sector, commission-heavy, or management-level. |
Boston Job Market Overview
Boston, Massachusetts has a population of 675,647 and an unemployment rate of 3.5%. The top industries are Healthcare, Education, Technology. The local job growth rate is 2.0%, and the average commute time is 31 minutes.
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Police Officer Salary in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Salary Percentile Breakdown — Police Officer in Boston
Based on the cost-of-living-adjusted distribution for Police Officer in Boston, MA, here's how earnings break down across the workforce:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $71,440 | $34/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $85,120 | $41/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $98,800 | $48/hr | Mid-career, Police Academy |
| 75th | $130,720 | $63/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $167,200 | $80/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
Percentiles estimated using a log-normal salary distribution model calibrated to Police Officer compensation data. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Boston's Healthcare sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Police Officer salaries in Boston have grown approximately 12.0% over the past 5 years, outpacing local CPI inflation in many cases. Here's the historical and projected trajectory:
Year-over-year, an average Police Officer can expect a 6.9% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 9 years in Boston. Negotiation, certifications (POST Certification, CPR), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Boston vs National Average
The national median Police Officer salary is $65,000. In Boston, the cost-of-living-adjusted median of $98,800 is 52.0% above the national figure. This reflects Boston's cost of living index of 152 (higher than the national average of 100).
For Police Officers, this means: rent typically consumes 45.8% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered rent-burdened), and a median home in Boston costs about 9.3× annual take-home. Homeownership in Boston on this salary is challenging — most experts recommend keeping home costs to 3-4× income.
Industry Context: Healthcare in Boston
Boston's economy is anchored by Healthcare, Education, Technology, with 675,647 residents and 3.5% unemployment as of 2026. Police Officers working in the Healthcare sector typically earn at or above the local median due to industry-specific demand. The state's overall job growth rate is 2.0%, and Police Officer occupations specifically are projected to grow 3.0% nationally through 2034 (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Police Officer salaries in Boston, MA:
- Base salary model starts with Salario occupation data and public wage references, including BLS OEWS and O*NET when a direct or related occupational crosswalk is available. For niche titles, we do not treat a broader SOC family as an exact job-title wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment applied using the Boston index of 152 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs checked separately.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), MA state income tax of 5.0%, and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine — occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation and cost-of-living data
- U.S. Census Bureau — Boston QuickFacts — population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary — 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — Boston unemployment rate
Last reviewed: 2026. Salary data updated annually as new BLS releases become available. Police Officer salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Healthcare vs others in Boston), specific skill set (Law Enforcement, Report Writing, De-escalation), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Police Officer salary in Boston, MA?
How much does a Police Officer take home in Boston after taxes?
Is Boston a good city for Police Officers?
What skills are needed for a Police Officer in Boston?
How does Police Officer salary in Boston compare to the national average?
What job titles are similar to Police Officer in Boston?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Police Officer salary in Boston, MA?
The median Police Officer salary in Boston, MA is $98,800 per year as of 2026. This is adjusted for the local cost of living index of 152. Entry-level Police Officers earn around $71,440, while senior-level professionals can earn $130,720 or more.
How much does a Police Officer take home in Boston after taxes?
A Police Officer earning the median salary of $98,800 in Boston, MA takes home approximately $73,396 per year ($6,116/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 25.7%.
Is Boston a good city for Police Officers?
Boston, MA has a cost of living index of 152 (above national average). Police Officers here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 3.5% and top industries include Healthcare, Education, Technology.
What skills are needed for a Police Officer in Boston?
Key skills for Police Officers include Law Enforcement, Report Writing, De-escalation, Firearms, Community Policing. Typical education requirement is High School Diploma / Associate's. Valuable certifications include POST Certification, CPR, Defensive Tactics.
How does Police Officer salary in Boston compare to the national average?
The national median Police Officer salary is $65,000. In Boston, the adjusted salary is $98,800, which is 52.0% higher than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.
What job titles are similar to Police Officer in Boston?
Related search terms for Police Officer in Boston, MA include Patrol Officer, Law Enforcement Officer, Cop. Use them as comparison terms, not always exact matches: licensing, employer type, seniority, public-sector rules, and whether the role is W-2, contractor, clinical, technical, management, or sales-focused can change the salary range.