Entry-level HR Specialist salary in Boston, MA
Based on 12 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge, Waltham, Canton, Somerville, Arlington.
Also listed as: Recruiter
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $52,731 |
| 25th | $55,221 |
| 50th (median) | $58,344 |
| 75th | $63,892 |
| 90th | $66,985 |
Cost of living
Boston's median entry-level HR Specialist salary of $58,344 is worth about $53,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boston = 108.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Human Resources Specialists in the Boston, MA area earned a median of $90,270 in May 2025 (21,770 employed). The H-1B median here is $58,344, 35% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $58,344 | 12 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $75,712 | 11 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 4 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 2 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $52,478 | $58,344 | 12 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $69,493 | $75,712 | 11 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.