Taxi Drivers Salary
In Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, taxi drivers earn $35,290 at the median, or about $16.97 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $37K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.27), so that salary is closer to $32,594 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,941/month, about 122.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $35K 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 taxi drivers
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What this looks like in Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Pay for taxi drivers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $42K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,941/month, which is 123.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 8% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.27), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for taxi driverss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Entry-level taxi drivers (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $37K or more, a $5K spread from bottom to top.
Taxi Drivers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Taxi Drivers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $49K | +16% | 460 |
| Nevada | $45K | +6% | 2,980 |
| Colorado | $43K | +3% | 60 |
| New York | $42K | -1% | N/A |
| New Hampshire | $42K | -1% | 80 |
| California | $39K | -7% | 3,880 |
| Missouri | $38K | -11% | 200 |
| Oregon | $37K | -12% | 240 |
| Maine | $37K | -12% | 50 |
| North Carolina | $37K | -12% | 120 |
| Maryland | $37K | -12% | 50 |
| Illinois | $37K | -13% | 190 |
| Michigan | $37K | -13% | 90 |
| Utah | $36K | -14% | 110 |
| Arizona | $36K | -14% | 950 |
| Minnesota | $36K | -15% | 150 |
| Pennsylvania | $35K | -16% | 210 |
| Massachusetts | $35K | -16% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $34K | -20% | 150 |
| Georgia | $33K | -21% | 120 |
| Virginia | $28K | -32% | 190 |
| Florida | $28K | -33% | 860 |
| Wisconsin | $28K | -34% | 880 |
| Kansas | $27K | -36% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 24 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track taxi drivers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Boston-Cambridge-Newton numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a taxi driver afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $35K, rent takes 123.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,941/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for taxi drivers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new taxi drivers typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,970/month. At HUD’s $2,941/month FMR, rent would take 149% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is taxi driver a high-paying job in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $35K here vs. $42K nationally.
How does Boston-Cambridge-Newton compare to the national average for taxi drivers?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton pays $35K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.27), the purchasing-power equivalent is $33K — below the national median.
How much do taxi drivers make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median is $35,290 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,830, and experienced taxi drivers can clear $37,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,386/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,941/month, which eats 123.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a taxi drivers 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 taxi drivers salary is worth about $32,594 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do taxi drivers 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.