MA · Boston · Updated October 15, 2026

Registered Nurse jobs in Boston, MA

Pay for registered nurses in the Boston area centers on $49.25 per hour, or about $102,440 a year. The lower quarter earns under $40.48 and the upper quarter over $65.94. The CMS hospital directory lists 12 hospitals in Boston. That ranks 51st of 379 U.S. metro areas for registered nurse pay, and 90th of 335 once local prices are factored in. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Boston.

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Open Registered Nurse roles in Boston

PermanentPosted today

RN Dispensing Nurse

Acadia Healthcare · Boston, MA

$40.00–$45.00/ hour
  • OTHER
  • Req 112150
New this week
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More open Registered Nurse roles in Boston

36 more open roles from employers in Boston. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

PermanentPosted today

RN, Medical Unit - MGH

Mass General Brigham · Boston, MA

Pay range with your report
  • Full time
  • Req RQ4077440
New this week
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PermanentPosted today

RN Neuro ICU- MGH

Mass General Brigham · Boston, MA

Pay range with your report
  • Full time
  • Req RQ4080121
New this week
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PermanentPosted today

Oncology Staff Nurse BWH

Mass General Brigham · Boston, MA

Pay range with your report
  • Full time
  • Req RQ4081406
New this week
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PermanentPosted today

Vascular Staff Nurse BWH

Mass General Brigham · Boston, MA

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  • Full time
  • Req RQ4082775
New this week
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All Registered Nurse jobs in Massachusetts

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Named employers near Boston, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Who is hiring registered nurses near Boston

EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
Boston Medical Center97$56.69
Fresenius Medical Care2$48.50
Acadia Healthcare1$42.50
Veterans Health Administration1$68.20

Registered Nurse pay in Boston, MA

The metro median is in line with the Massachusetts statewide median of $49.03 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.00 per hour. BLS counts about 66,440 registered nurses employed in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area, 24.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.15).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$37.46$77,92017% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$40.48$84,20010% below U.S. median
Median$49.25$102,4409% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$65.94$137,16047% above U.S. median
Top 10%$85.16$177,13089% above U.S. median

How Boston ranks

  • 51st of 379 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 90th of 335 after adjusting for local prices
  • 2nd of 5 Massachusetts metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Boston

  • Overall prices in Boston-Cambridge-Newton run 8% above the U.S. average (index 108.3, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 48% above the U.S. average (index 148.4).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $49.25 median hour buys what $45.49 buys at the national price level, 1% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Boston paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,773
  • Per year: $88,650
  • Per month: $7,388

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Boston

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$273
Meals and incidentals per day$92
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$2,555
13-week assignment$33,215

Travel registered nurse assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Hospitals in Boston

CMS lists 12 hospitals in Boston, 3 of the 6 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of registered nurses.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Brigham And Women's Hospital
Boston, MA		Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA		Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
New England Baptist Hospital
Boston, MA		Acute careNonprofit5 of 5No
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, MA		Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Boston Medical Center
Boston, MA		Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Tufts Medical Center
Boston, MA		Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, MA		Children'sNonprofitNot ratedYes
Carney Hospital
Boston, MA		Acute careFor-profitNot ratedYes
Massachusetts Eye And Ear Infirmary -
Boston, MA		Acute careNonprofitNot ratedYes
The Shriners' Hospital For Children - Boston
Boston, MA		Children'sFor-profitNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Primary care shortage areas in Suffolk County

HRSA lists 17 active primary care shortage designations that include Suffolk County (1 population-group, 16 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 19 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.

Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.

Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.

Registered Nurse pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Everett, MA5 mi$49.25/hr51,825
Quincy, MA5 mi$49.25/hr103,434

Registered Nurse jobs in Massachusetts · Registered Nurse jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Massachusetts

Massachusetts has enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact but has not implemented it as of October 15, 2026, so a nurse working here applies for a Massachusetts license by endorsement.

Massachusetts taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Massachusetts state guide · Nurse Licensure Compact guide

Other healthcare roles in Boston

Boston city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do registered nurses make in Boston, MA?

Registered Nurses in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area have a median pay of $49.25 per hour, about $102,440 a year. The middle half earn between $40.48 and $65.94 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Boston a good place for registered nurses once cost of living is counted?

Boston-Cambridge-Newton ranks 90th of 335 metro areas for registered nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 51st of 379 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring registered nurses in Boston?

We list 101 open roles with published pay from 4 employers in Boston. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Boston.

Do I need a Massachusetts license to work in Boston as a registered nurse?

Massachusetts has enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact but has not implemented it as of October 15, 2026, so a nurse working here applies for a Massachusetts license by endorsement. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Boston in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 17 active primary care shortage designations that include Suffolk County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Boston?

The federal per diem benchmark in Boston is $273 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,555 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place registered nurses in Boston?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Boston and across Massachusetts. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Boston.

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What do employers near Boston pay registered nurses? Get the report.

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    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

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    What they are offering now

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · RN near Boston, MA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your RN pay reportBoston, MA · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Boston Medical CenterBoston, MA · 137 postings$56.69/ hr$32–$81
  • The General Hospital CorporationBoston, MA · 3 wage offers$50.31/ hr$48–$95
  • Fresenius Medical CareBoston, MA · 8 postings$47.50/ hr$31–$59
  • Veterans Health AdministrationWorcester, MA · 5 postings$66.37/ hr$40–$93

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.

2What they are offering now

Low$38Median$56.69High$79

543 RN postings with published pay in Massachusetts, 458 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 543 RN roles

  1. Registered Nurse, 4 West, Neurology/Neurosurgery, 24 Hours, NightsPermanent
    $39.89–$87.15/ hour
    UMass Memorial Health Care · Worcester, MA · posted today
  2. Registered Nurse, Emergency Department, University, 36 Hours, Nights, 7p-7aPermanent
    $39.89–$87.15/ hour
    UMass Memorial Health Care · Worcester, MA · posted today

+ 541 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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