Government Jobs in Massachusetts: Employers & Pay

1,089

local governments (2022)

counties

352

cities, towns and townships

413

special districts

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments — Government Organization. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Massachusetts state government pay plan

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Human Resources Division (HRD) publishes the classification and pay plan for Massachusetts state employees: 1,308 job classes and 324 pay grades, effective July 12, 2026. Below are the classes that match GovJobsWiki jobs, with annual ranges converted from the plan's published rates.

Job	Classes in the MA plan	Annual range
911 Dispatcher / Public Safety Telecommunicator	Communications Officer, Cd, Public Safety Dispatcher I–III 4 classes	$60,152 – $114,649
Accountant (government)	Accountant I–V 5 classes	$57,865 – $117,590
Administrative Assistant (government)	Administrative Assistant 2 classes	$84,041 – $116,720
Bank / Financial Examiner	Bank Examiner I–IV 4 classes	$66,890 – $150,776
Budget Analyst	Budget Examiner I–III 3 classes	$57,865 – $101,516
Child Support Officer	Child Support Investigator I–II 2 classes	$84,930 – $126,157
Civil Engineer (DOT / city / county)	Civil Engineer I–VI 11 classes	$67,058 – $151,675
Contract / Procurement Specialist	Contract Specialist I–III, Buyer I–IV 10 classes	$55,557 – $117,590
Correctional Officer (state prison)	Correction Officer I–III 3 classes	$69,038 – $116,720
Crime Scene Investigator / Forensic Technician	Forensic Scientist I–V 8 classes	$70,521 – $151,675
Detective / Criminal Investigator	Special Investigator (A/B), Special Investigator (C), Special Investigator (D) 3 classes	$82,938 – $137,856
Engineering Technician (DOT)	Engineering Aide I–II 3 classes	$49,415 – $87,744
Environmental Engineer	Environmental Engineer I–VI 7 classes	$67,058 – $151,675
Environmental Scientist (government)	Environmental Analyst I–VI 12 classes	$67,058 – $151,675
Epidemiologist	Epidemiologist I–IV 4 classes	$81,059 – $151,675
Food Safety Inspector (USDA / state)	Food And Drug Inspector I–III 4 classes	$66,292 – $114,649
Forester	Forester I–III 5 classes	$67,058 – $118,661
Forestry Technician (USFS)	Forestry Assistant 2 classes	$54,654 – $78,105
GIS Analyst / Specialist	GIS Analyst I, GIS Specialist II–III 3 classes	$75,826 – $157,374
Government Auditor	Auditor I–IV, Internal Auditor I–III 7 classes	$57,865 – $122,919
Grants Specialist / Manager	Grants Management Spec I–III 3 classes	$60,662 – $106,402
Heavy Equipment Operator (government)	Maint Equipment Operator I–II 2 classes	$56,370 – $80,785
Human Resources Specialist (government)	Personnel Analyst I–III, Human Resources Specialist I–III 6 classes	$66,890 – $122,919
Hydrologist	Hydrologist 1 class	$95,136 – $140,142
IRS Revenue Agent / Tax Examiner	Tax Examiner I–VII, Tax Auditor I–III 10 classes	$64,039 – $150,776
IT Specialist (government)	Network Technician I, Systems Administrator I–II, +2 more 5 classes	$75,826 – $125,924
Lifeguard (city / state beaches & pools)	Lifeguard I–II 2 classes	$42,214 – $55,742
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government)	Clerk I–VI 12 classes	$43,267 – $84,303
Park Ranger (NPS / state / county)	Ranger I–III 3 classes	$53,822 – $90,544
Parole Officer	Parole Officer (A/B), Parole Officer (C), Parole Officer (D) 3 classes	$82,938 – $137,856
Policy / Management Analyst	Management Analyst I–III 5 classes	$64,039 – $117,590
Public Information Officer	Public Information Officer 1 class	$103,430 – $150,776
Social Worker (government)	Social Worker I–IV, Clinical Social Worker (A/B), +2 more 14 classes	$69,804 – $126,157
State Trooper / Highway Patrol Officer	State Police Trooper 1 class	$80,213 – $100,486
Urban / City Planner	Regional Planner I–V 8 classes	$67,058 – $140,142
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor	Rehabilitation Counselor (A/B), Rehabilitation Counselor (C), Rehabilitation Counselor (D) 6 classes	$66,368 – $110,421
Wildland Firefighter	Firefighter 2 classes	$59,769 – $95,913
Wildlife / Fisheries Biologist	Game Biologist I–IV 6 classes	$63,891 – $124,145

Classes are matched to jobs by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Human Resources Division (HRD), Massachusetts Executive Branch Bargaining Unit Job Codes and Salary Charts. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Public employers in Massachusetts

Fire departments · 276

Employer	City	Career firefighters	Website
Boston Fire Department	Boston	1,500	Official site
Worcester Fire Department	Worcester	401	Official site
Cambridge Fire Department	Cambridge	278	Official site
Springfield Fire Department	Springfield	278	Official site
New Bedford Fire Department	New Bedford	223	Official site
Brockton Fire Department	Brockton	205	—
City of Lowell Fire Department	Lowell	205	Official site
Fall River Fire Department	Fall River	190	Official site
City of Quincy Fire Department	Quincy	188	Official site
Newton Fire Department	Newton	184	—

All 276 fire departments in Massachusetts →

Transit agencies · 21

Employer	City	Vehicles operated directly	Website
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority	Boston	999	Official site
Worcester Regional Transit Authority	Worcester	54	Official site
Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority	Falmouth	25	Official site
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe	Mashpee	4	—
Town of Bedford	Bedford	2	Official site
Berkshire Regional Transit Authority	Pittsfield	0	Official site
Brockton Area Transit Authority	Brockton	0	Official site
Cape Ann Transportation Authority	Gloucester	0	Official site
Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority	Hyannis	0	Official site
City of Beverly	Beverly	0	—

All 21 transit agencies in Massachusetts →

School districts · 323

Employer	City	Teachers (FTE)	Website
Boston	Roxbury	4,366	Official site
Springfield	Springfield	2,075	Official site
Worcester	Worcester	1,910	Official site
Lynn	Lynn	1,364	Official site
Lawrence	Lawrence	1,160	Official site
Lowell	Lowell	1,147	Official site
Newton	Newtonville	1,108	Official site
New Bedford	New Bedford	1,065	Official site
Brockton	Brockton	979	Official site
Fall River	Fall River	896	Official site

All 323 school districts in Massachusetts →

Police departments · 331

Municipal and county police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 331 police departments in Massachusetts →

Campus police departments · 63

College and university police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 63 campus police departments in Massachusetts →

Sources: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), National Fire Department Registry; Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database 2024 — Reporter Agency Information; National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, 2024–25 local education agency universe (directory and staff); Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay for government jobs in Massachusetts

Median wage in Massachusetts for each job's occupation (all employers in the state), next to the national median in government. Largest occupations first.

Job	Workers in MA	Median in MA	National, government
City / County Manager SOC 11-1021	95,880	$127,220	$137,300
Correctional Nurse SOC 29-1141	88,200	$104,550	$100,490
Public Health Nurse SOC 29-1141	88,200	$104,550	$100,490
School Nurse SOC 29-1141	88,200	$104,550	$100,490
VA Nurse (Veterans Affairs) SOC 29-1141	88,200	$104,550	$100,490
Custodian (schools & public buildings) SOC 37-2011	55,490	$45,580	$39,640
IRS Customer Service Representative SOC 43-4051	49,990	$49,120	$45,860
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government) SOC 43-9061	47,940	$49,940	$46,170
Accountant (government) SOC 13-2011	46,230	$99,460	$81,390
Government Auditor SOC 13-2011	46,230	$99,460	$81,390
Paraprofessional / Teacher Aide SOC 25-9045	39,210	$39,380	$36,990
Administrative Assistant (government) SOC 43-6014	37,750	$57,940	$48,290
School Secretary / Office Manager SOC 43-6014	37,750	$57,940	$48,290
Policy / Management Analyst SOC 13-1111	30,060	$134,720	$96,570
Program Analyst (federal) SOC 13-1111	30,060	$134,720	$96,570
Elementary School Teacher SOC 25-2021	29,930	$94,000	$65,310
Public School Teacher (hub) SOC 25-2021	29,930	$94,000	$65,310
ESL / ELL Teacher SOC 25-2031	28,460	$95,260	$74,220
High School Teacher SOC 25-2031	28,460	$95,260	$74,220
Human Resources Specialist (government) SOC 13-1071	27,300	$85,630	$80,330
Government Attorney (agency counsel) SOC 23-1011	23,560	$176,680	$134,680
Prosecutor / Assistant District Attorney SOC 23-1011	23,560	$176,680	$134,680
Public Defender SOC 23-1011	23,560	$176,680	$134,680
Parks / Grounds Maintenance Worker SOC 37-3011	22,880	$48,670	$40,080
Public Pre-K Teacher SOC 25-2011	18,710	$45,890	$60,040
Child Support Officer SOC 13-1199	17,910	$93,270	$91,060
Death Investigator / Coroner SOC 13-1199	17,910	$93,270	$91,060
Foreign Service Officer (diplomat) SOC 13-1199	17,910	$93,270	$91,060
Grants Specialist / Manager SOC 13-1199	17,910	$93,270	$91,060
Border Patrol Agent SOC 33-3051	17,040	$78,940	$76,300

Several jobs can share one occupation code.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Government jobs in Massachusetts