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What does a Firefighters salary really buy you in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is 9.4% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Massachusetts's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.4, meaning prices are 9.4% higher the national average. A Firefighters earning $72,800 in Massachusetts has the equivalent purchasing power of $66,544 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $49,730 | $45,457 | $-4,272 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $61,800 | $56,489 | $-5,310 |
| Median (P50) | $72,800 | $66,544 | $-6,255 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $80,070 | $73,190 | $-6,879 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $98,130 | $89,698 | $-8,431 |
While $72,800 sounds high, Massachusetts's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $66,544. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Massachusetts's RPP of 109.4 puts it 9.4% above the national baseline cost of living. A Firefighters needs that premium in nominal pay just to maintain the same purchasing power as an average-cost state.
After applying Massachusetts's RPP, the $72,800 median salary translates to $66,545 in real terms — a 8.6% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Firefighters.
Massachusetts sits at #13 of 50 states for Firefighters COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Firefighters salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Massachusetts ranks #13 out of 50 states for Firefighters after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Firefighters take-home pay in Massachusetts after taxes →
A Firefighters in Massachusetts earns a median salary of $72,800 per year. After adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (RPP=109.4), the real purchasing power is $66,544 — a -8.6% difference.
Massachusetts's cost of living is 9.4% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Massachusetts is 109.4 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Firefighters in Massachusetts: $72,800 x (100 / 109.4) = $66,544. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Firefighters's nominal salary of $72,800 in Massachusetts has 8.6% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $66,544. However, Massachusetts may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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