When you enter the tool, you will see a walkthrough with all data sources listed, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Massachusetts Department of Economic Research.

Salary data is updated annually in alignment with Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting.

State-level projected job growth data is updated when new data is released by the state (typically once every two years).

In this tool, a well-paying job refers to one that pays at least 80% of the median salary for all workers in a selected region. For the Boston metro area, that salary number is $51,700 per year For the Central MA region, that number is $44,240 per year. We selected 80% of the median salary because it approximates the minimum salary required for an individual to cover their living expenses in the selected region according to the Self-Sufficiency Standard at the Center for Women’s Welfare, University of Washington.

It includes any postsecondary credential/training below a bachelor’s degree, for example, an associate degree, vocational certificate, civil service exam, or apprenticeship. It also includes a small number of jobs that require a high school diploma combined with on-the-job training by the employer.

A career area refers to a broad field of work. Occupations within career areas may share similar job tasks, interests, and skill sets.

The X-axis shows how many people work in the specific career areas in the region. The Y-axis shows the average salary by career area in the region.

The growth level indicates the expected employment growth in the occupation in Massachusetts for the ten-year period of 2022-2032. The tool shows three growth levels:

Low
Occupations with projected growth rates in the bottom quartile for all occupations paying at least 80% of the median salary in a region.

Average
Occupations with projected growth rates in the middle two quartiles.

High
Occupations with growth rates in the top quartile.

Early-career salary represents the lower end of the salary range for the occupation (i.e., the 25th-percentile salary for the occupation). Typically, workers will earn a salary at the 25th-percentile or higher after a few years of experience in the field.

Median salary is the middle point of all salaries within an occupation within a selected region. Half of the workers in the occupation make less than the median salary, and half make more. Typically, workers will earn the median salary or higher in an occupation after accumulating several years of experience.

“Education requirement” is the level of education or training typically needed to enter an occupation.

The salary level of an occupation is ranked as $$, $$$, or $$$$ based on where the occupation’s median salary ranks relative to the median salary for all occupations in a region:

$$ - Occupation pays less than the median salary for all occupations in the region.

$$$ - Occupation pays between the 50th (i.e., median) and 75th-percentile salary for all occupations in the region.

$$$$ - Occupation pays at or above the 75th-percentile salary for all occupations in the region.

BA stands for any Bachelor’s degree.

“Sub-BA Jobs” represents the number of people working in the occupation with less than a Bachelor’s degree.

“BA Jobs” represents the number of people working in the occupation with a Bachelor’s degree.

“Graduate Jobs” represents the number of people working in the occupation with a graduate degree.

The typical education required to enter some occupations may fall into more than one credential level. For example, some Registered Nurses get jobs with an associate degree, and others with a bachelor’s.

NextGen Talent’s goal is to boost the enrollment of low-income students, including students of color and first-generation college students, who are disproportionately low income, in postsecondary programs and majors that lead to well-paying jobs. These students do not have the same financial safety nets as their higher-income peers, therefore, it is critical that they can identify postsecondary programs and career paths with strong labor market returns.

Websites including O*NET OnLine, MyNextMove, and Occupational Outlook Handbook are helpful to explore a variety of occupations with different pay levels.