Human Resources Managers Salary
In Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, human resources managers earn $184,990 at the median, or about $88.94 an hour. The range runs from $100K at the entry level to $318K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.27), so that salary is closer to $170,860 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,941/month, or 27.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $185K get you in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Boston-Cambridge-Newton’s Regional Price Parity (108.27). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About human resources managers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Boston-Cambridge-Newton sits well above the national pay line for human resources managers, local pay runs about 24% higher than the U.S. median of $149K. Rent runs $2,941/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 8% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.27), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for human resources managers in metros near Boston-Cambridge-Newton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester | $160K | $157K |
| Springfield | $152K | $159K |
| Barnstable Town | $136K | $139K |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | $132K | $132K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Entry-level human resources managers (10th percentile) start around $100K. Mid-career wages sit at $185K. Top earners bring in $318K or more, a $218K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Managers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Human Resources Managers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $184K | +23% | 2,250 |
| Massachusetts | $182K | +22% | 7,540 |
| New York | $177K | +18% | 17,920 |
| New Jersey | $172K | +16% | 6,400 |
| California | $170K | +14% | 27,450 |
| Rhode Island | $167K | +12% | 530 |
| Colorado | $166K | +11% | 3,620 |
| Virginia | $166K | +11% | 5,770 |
| Connecticut | $166K | +11% | 3,020 |
| Washington | $166K | +11% | 4,560 |
| Delaware | $154K | +3% | 580 |
| Minnesota | $154K | +3% | 4,370 |
| Maryland | $153K | +2% | 3,820 |
| Illinois | $151K | +1% | 13,520 |
| Georgia | $151K | +1% | 7,270 |
| North Carolina | $143K | -4% | 6,480 |
| Oregon | $141K | -6% | 2,810 |
| Arizona | $140K | -6% | 3,950 |
| North Dakota | $139K | -7% | 290 |
| Michigan | $139K | -7% | 5,890 |
| Florida | $138K | -8% | 11,570 |
| Texas | $137K | -9% | 23,220 |
| New Hampshire | $135K | -10% | 1,150 |
| Kansas | $134K | -10% | 1,290 |
| Wisconsin | $133K | -11% | 3,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $133K | -11% | 8,230 |
| Vermont | $132K | -12% | 360 |
| Tennessee | $132K | -12% | 4,310 |
| Utah | $131K | -12% | 2,240 |
| Missouri | $131K | -12% | 3,510 |
| Ohio | $130K | -13% | 8,040 |
| Indiana | $130K | -13% | 3,030 |
| Maine | $130K | -13% | 700 |
| Alaska | $130K | -13% | 610 |
| Nebraska | $129K | -13% | 1,660 |
| Hawaii | $129K | -14% | 710 |
| Nevada | $129K | -14% | 1,520 |
| Wyoming | $128K | -15% | 140 |
| Iowa | $126K | -15% | 1,620 |
| South Carolina | $124K | -17% | 2,400 |
| Kentucky | $121K | -19% | 1,960 |
| West Virginia | $120K | -20% | 510 |
| Idaho | $120K | -20% | 1,040 |
| New Mexico | $118K | -21% | 820 |
| South Dakota | $118K | -21% | 420 |
| Oklahoma | $116K | -22% | 1,750 |
| Montana | $115K | -23% | 530 |
| Alabama | $113K | -24% | 2,160 |
| Arkansas | $109K | -27% | 1,290 |
| Louisiana | $108K | -28% | 1,390 |
| Mississippi | $106K | -29% | 720 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track human resources managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Boston-Cambridge-Newton numbers change.
Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a human resources manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Yes — at the median salary of $185K, rent takes 27.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,941/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for human resources managers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources managers typically earn — is $100K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,999/month. At HUD’s $2,941/month FMR, rent would take 49% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is human resources manager a high-paying job in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Local pay is 24% above the national median — $185K here vs. $149K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 8% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Boston-Cambridge-Newton compare to the national average for human resources managers?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton pays $185K median vs. the U.S. average of $149K — that’s +24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.27), the purchasing-power equivalent is $171K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do human resources managers make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median is $184,990 a year, that works out to about $89 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $99,990, and experienced human resources managers can clear $317,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $185K enough to live in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,708/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,941/month, which eats 27.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a human resources managers salary go in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton has a Regional Price Parity of 108.27 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median human resources managers salary is worth about $170,860 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do human resources managers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.