The Real Salary Guide to Quincy, MA: What $100k Actually Buys You

You pulled the trigger on a $100,000 salary offer in Quincy, Massachusetts. You see the six-figure number on the contract and feel secure. But in the Greater Boston area, the "sticker price" of your labor is rarely what lands in your bank account.

This guide strips away the optimism and runs the raw numbers. We are analyzing the purchasing power of a $100,000 salary in the "City of Presidents" to see if you are building wealth or just servicing a high-cost geography.

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The Verification Test ($100,000 Analysis)

Before you budget for a waterfront apartment or a BMW lease, we need to run the Verification Test. This is the gap between what your employer pays and what the government allows you to keep.

The Gross vs. Net Breakdown:

• Sticker Price: $100,000
• Federal Tax: -$13,614
• FICA Tax: -$7,650
• State Tax (MA): -$5,000
• Local Tax: -$0

The Result:

• Total Take Home Pay: $73,736
• Monthly Net Pay: $6,145

The Analysis:
The "Quincy Tax" (State + Federal + FICA) eats 26.26% of your gross income immediately. You are losing over a quarter of your earnings before you see a dime. While Massachusetts has no local city income tax (unlike Philadelphia or parts of New York), the aggressive State Tax of $5,000 on this bracket attacks your bottom line hard.

If you rely on the "sticker price" of $100k to gauge your wealth, you will overspend. You live and die by the $6,145 monthly net.

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Smart Budget Breakdown (50/30/20 Rule)

With $6,145 hitting your account monthly, we apply the 50/30/20 rule to determine your actual purchasing power in Quincy’s competitive market.

Needs: $3,072 (50%)

This bucket covers the essentials: Rent, utilities, groceries, and insurance.

• The Rent Reality: Quincy is expensive. A decent one-bedroom apartment averages $2,600+.
• The Math: If you spend $2,700 on rent (average), you have $372 left for food, ConEd electricity, internet, and Blue Cross health premiums.
• Verdict: You can afford rent, but you are "house poor." To make this bucket work, you will likely need a roommate or a strict meal-prep regime. This $3,072 is tight for a solo operator.

Wants: $1,843 (30%)

This is your discretionary spending—dining out, the T pass, Netflix, and nightlife in the North End.

• The Purchasing Power: $1,843 is a healthy number for "fun," provided your housing costs don't bleed into this category.
• The Warning: If you move to a $3,000 apartment to be closer to the Red Line, this entire category vanishes.

Savings: $1,229 (20%)

This is your wealth engine.

• Compounding: $1,229/month is $14,748/year.
• The Strategy: This is a solid foundation. If you invest this $1,229 monthly into a diversified index fund (S&P 500) rather than letting it sit in a savings account, you are leveraging the market to combat the high cost of living.
• Verdict: You are saving, which puts you ahead of 78% of Americans. However, in a high-cost state like MA, you must maximize this to retire on time.

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Quincy Taxes vs The Competition

Is the tax burden in Quincy justified? Let's look at where else that $100k could go.

Scenario A: Quincy, MA vs. New York City, NY

• Quincy (MA): 5% State Tax, $0 Local Tax.
• NYC: ~6.5% State Tax + ~3.8% City Tax.
• The Winner: Quincy. You save roughly 5% in pure income tax compared to NYC. However, rent in Boston/Quincy is closing the gap with NYC, meaning your spending power is similar, but your tax burden is lower in MA.

Scenario B: Quincy, MA vs. Austin, TX

• Quincy (MA): 5% State Tax.
• Austin (TX): 0% State Tax.
• The Winner: Austin. Texas protects your paycheck. On $100k, Massachusetts takes $5,000 of your money that Texas leaves in your pocket. To justify living in Quincy, the "Mass Premium" (education, healthcare, walkability) has to be worth that $5,000 annual tax bill to you.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the income tax rate in Quincy?
A: Quincy residents pay the standard Massachusetts flat income tax rate of 5% on wages. There is no additional local city income tax.

Q: Is $100k a good salary in Quincy?
A: It is a comfortable but not luxurious salary. $100k provides a monthly net of $6,145. While this covers a solo apartment and moderate savings, it does not provide "rich" lifestyle liquidity. To live alone, save aggressively, and travel, you generally need to clear $120k+ in this market.

Q: Does Quincy have a local city tax?
A: No. Unlike cities such as Philadelphia or St. Louis, Quincy does not levy a local income tax on residents. Your tax liability is strictly Federal and State (Massachusetts).

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Disclaimer: This guide utilizes the IRS 2026 Tax Tables for single filers (Standard Deduction applied), Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) CPI data for the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy area, and Massachusetts State Comptroller tax brackets. Figures are estimates based on a single filer with no dependents and the Standard Deduction.