NextChapter

Best cities for pay after cost of living in the Northeast

Watertown leads the Northeast for pay after the cost of living: its median posted salary buys what $193k buys at average US prices.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

Key facts

  • #1 Watertown, MA: $193k
  • #2 Cambridge, MA: $187k
  • #3 Waltham, MA: $182k
  • 26 cities ranked in the Northeast
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: $143k across the typical city in our data.

  1. 1Watertown MA$193k
  2. 2Cambridge MA$187k
  3. 3Waltham MA$182k
  4. 4Princeton NJ$176k
  5. 5Lexington MA$162k
  6. 6Boston MA$157k
  7. 7Somerville MA$155k
  8. 8Quincy MA$152k
  9. 9New York NY$150k
  10. 10Jersey City NJ$149k

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: Watertown leads on $193k, and #10 Jersey City is at $149k.
  • Watertown reaches #1 on a sample of 70 openings with pay posted, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • New York is the largest market in the top ten, with 8,031 openings with pay posted behind its figure.
  • Cities with fewer than 100 openings with pay posted are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

A salary buys different amounts in different places. This list adjusts posted pay by the local price level, so it ranks what the pay is worth rather than the number on the posting.

How to use it

Use it to compare two offers or two cities. A lower headline salary in a cheaper place can leave you ahead of a higher one in an expensive metro.

The top 25

  1. 1

    Watertown MA

    $193k

    Median posted pay
    $205k
    State prices vs US average
    +6%
    Openings with pay posted
    70

    Hiring most here: Tutor Intelligence, Kymera Therapeutics, Treeline Biosciences

    Based on 70 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Watertown

  2. 2

    Cambridge MA

    $187k

    Median posted pay
    $198k
    State prices vs US average
    +6%
    Openings with pay posted
    326

    Hiring most here: Harvard University, Biogen, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

    Based on 326 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Cambridge

  3. 3

    Waltham MA

    $182k

    Median posted pay
    $193k
    State prices vs US average
    +6%
    Openings with pay posted
    214

    Hiring most here: Boston Dynamics, Anduril Industries, Xometry

    Based on 214 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Waltham

  4. 4

    Princeton NJ

    $176k

    Median posted pay
    $191k
    State prices vs US average
    +9%
    Openings with pay posted
    131

    Hiring most here: Genmab A/S, Otsuka, ZS Associates

    Based on 131 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Princeton

  5. 5

    Lexington MA

    $162k

    Median posted pay
    $172k
    State prices vs US average
    +6%
    Openings with pay posted
    74

    Hiring most here: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Lincoln Lab), Takeda Development Center Americas, Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International

    Based on 74 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Lexington

  6. 6

    Boston MA

    $157k

    Median posted pay
    $170k
    Local prices vs US average
    +8%
    Openings with pay posted
    1,622

    Hiring most here: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Confidential, Takeda Development Center Americas

    Based on 1,622 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Boston

  7. 7

    Somerville MA

    $155k

    Median posted pay
    $164k
    State prices vs US average
    +6%
    Openings with pay posted
    235

    Hiring most here: Formlabs, Tulip Interfaces, Generate Biomedicines

    Based on 235 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Somerville

  8. 8

    Quincy MA

    $152k

    Median posted pay
    $161k
    State prices vs US average
    +6%
    Openings with pay posted
    91

    Hiring most here: Anduril Industries, Anduril, J.Jill

    Based on 91 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Quincy

  9. 9

    New York NY

    $150k

    Median posted pay
    $169k
    Local prices vs US average
    +13%
    Openings with pay posted
    8,031

    Hiring most here: Amazon, Publicis Groupe, Morgan Stanley

    Based on 8,031 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in New York

  10. 10

    Jersey City NJ

    $149k

    Median posted pay
    $162k
    State prices vs US average
    +9%
    Openings with pay posted
    97

    Hiring most here: DTCC, JPMorgan Chase, Verisk Analytics

    Based on 97 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Jersey City

  11. 11

    Harrisburg PA

    $143k

    Median posted pay
    $140k
    State prices vs US average
    −2%
    Openings with pay posted
    65

    Hiring most here: GSK, Michels, Parsons

    Based on 65 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Harrisburg

  12. 12

    Burlington MA

    $140k

    Median posted pay
    $148k
    State prices vs US average
    +6%
    Openings with pay posted
    66

    Hiring most here: Veracode, Vericel, Tufts Medicine Care AT Home

    Based on 66 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Burlington

  13. 13

    Stamford CT

    $140k

    Median posted pay
    $145k
    State prices vs US average
    +4%
    Openings with pay posted
    63

    Hiring most here: Philip Morris International, Gartner, Charter Communications

    Based on 63 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Stamford

  14. 14

    United PA

    $138k

    Median posted pay
    $135k
    State prices vs US average
    −2%
    Openings with pay posted
    65

    Based on 65 openings with pay posted.

  15. 15

    Pittsburgh PA

    $138k

    Median posted pay
    $131k
    Local prices vs US average
    −5%
    Openings with pay posted
    186

    Hiring most here: PNC Financial Services Group, Highmark Health, UPMC

    Based on 186 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Pittsburgh

  16. 16

    Parsippany NJ

    $135k

    Median posted pay
    $147k
    State prices vs US average
    +9%
    Openings with pay posted
    72

    Hiring most here: Langan, Clark Davis Associates, Ferrero North America

    Based on 72 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Parsippany

  17. 17

    Philadelphia PA

    $132k

    Median posted pay
    $135k
    Local prices vs US average
    +3%
    Openings with pay posted
    349

    Hiring most here: Confidential, GSK, Comcast

    Based on 349 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Philadelphia

  18. 18

    Hartford CT

    $130k

    Median posted pay
    $135k
    State prices vs US average
    +4%
    Openings with pay posted
    63

    Hiring most here: CVS HEALTH, Hartford HealthCare, Eversource Energy

    Based on 63 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Hartford

  19. 19

    Newark NJ

    $127k

    Median posted pay
    $138k
    State prices vs US average
    +9%
    Openings with pay posted
    114

    Hiring most here: Broadridge Financial Solutions, Amazon, Audible

    Based on 114 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Newark

  20. 20

    Brooklyn NY

    $126k

    Median posted pay
    $142k
    Local prices vs US average
    +13%
    Openings with pay posted
    174

    Hiring most here: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Williams-Sonoma, Etsy

    Based on 174 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Brooklyn

  21. 21

    White Plains NY

    $122k

    Median posted pay
    $138k
    Local prices vs US average
    +13%
    Openings with pay posted
    59

    Hiring most here: New York Power Authority, FormativGroup, RWE Clean Energy

    Based on 59 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in White Plains

  22. 22

    Woburn MA

    $121k

    Median posted pay
    $128k
    State prices vs US average
    +6%
    Openings with pay posted
    54

    Hiring most here: RTX, Spear Bio, VEIR

    Based on 54 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Woburn

  23. 23

    Buffalo NY

    $119k

    Median posted pay
    $128k
    State prices vs US average
    +8%
    Openings with pay posted
    121

    Hiring most here: Moog Military Aircraft, M&T Bank, Moog

    Based on 121 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Buffalo

  24. 24

    Syracuse NY

    $111k

    Median posted pay
    $120k
    State prices vs US average
    +8%
    Openings with pay posted
    69

    Hiring most here: Upstate Medical University, Hidden Level, HII Mission Technologies

    Based on 69 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Syracuse

  25. 25

    Albany NY

    $110k

    Median posted pay
    $119k
    State prices vs US average
    +8%
    Openings with pay posted
    98

    Hiring most here: KPMG, New York State, Broadview Credit Union

    Based on 98 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Albany

Full ranking

All 26 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCityScoreSample
1Watertown MA$193k70
2Cambridge MA$187k326
3Waltham MA$182k214
4Princeton NJ$176k131
5Lexington MA$162k74
6Boston MA$157k1,622
7Somerville MA$155k235
8Quincy MA$152k91
9New York NY$150k8,031
10Jersey City NJ$149k97
11Harrisburg PA$143k65
12Burlington MA$140k66
13Stamford CT$140k63
14United PA$138k65
15Pittsburgh PA$138k186
16Parsippany NJ$135k72
17Philadelphia PA$132k349
18Hartford CT$130k63
19Newark NJ$127k114
20Brooklyn NY$126k174
21White Plains NY$122k59
22Woburn MA$121k54
23Buffalo NY$119k121
24Syracuse NY$111k69
25Albany NY$110k98
26Rochester NY$94k66

How this ranking works

The score is a city's median posted annual salary (the midpoint of each posted range) divided by its local price level, with the United States at 100.

Price levels are the Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities for the city's metro area, or its state where no metro figure exists. Only cities with at least 50 listings that post a salary are ranked.

A city where one employer posts more than 50% of its openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score.

Sample bar: cities with fewer than 100 openings with pay posted are not ranked.

Sources: NextChapter job data: posted annual salary ranges; Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities 2024 (metro areas and states). Data as of November 2026.

Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.

Questions

Which city ranks first: best cities for pay after cost of living in the northeast?
Watertown leads the Northeast for pay after the cost of living: its median posted salary buys what $193k buys at average US prices.
How many cities are ranked?
26 cities have at least 100 openings with pay posted, so the list has 26 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
The score is a city's median posted annual salary (the midpoint of each posted range) divided by its local price level, with the United States at 100. Price levels are the Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities for the city's metro area, or its state where no metro figure exists. Only cities with at least 50 listings that post a salary are ranked. A city where one employer posts more than 50% of its openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score.
How often is it updated?
Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.

More rankings

Cite this ranking

NextChapter, “Best cities for pay after cost of living in the Northeast,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-pay-vs-cost-of-living-in-the-northeast

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-pay-vs-cost-of-living-in-the-northeast">Best cities for pay after cost of living in the Northeast (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.

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