What does a Human Resources Managers salary really buy you in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is 9.4% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-02
Massachusetts's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.4, meaning prices are 9.4% higher the national average. A Human Resources Managers earning $170,840 in Massachusetts has the equivalent purchasing power of $156,160 in an average-cost US state.
While $170,840 sounds high, Massachusetts's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $156,160. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Human Resources Managers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Massachusetts ranks #2 out of 51 states for Human Resources Managers after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Human Resources Managers take-home pay in Massachusetts after taxes →
A Human Resources Managers in Massachusetts earns a median salary of $170,840 per year. After adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (RPP=109.4), the real purchasing power is $156,160 — 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 Human Resources Managers in Massachusetts: $170,840 x (100 / 109.4) = $156,160. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Human Resources Managers's nominal salary of $170,840 in Massachusetts has 8.6% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $156,160. However, Massachusetts may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.