Boston DataLabs

Welcome to Boston DataLabs, a new interactive data dashboard designed to empower Boston residents, journalists, researchers, and policymakers with clear, accessible insights into city payroll and budget data. This tool offers a comprehensive look at how public funds have been earned, allocated, and spent in Boston through multiple mayoral administrations. Developed collaboratively by the Pioneer Institute and the Boston Policy Institute, Boston DataLabs continues a proud tradition of promoting transparency and civic engagement through free, public access to government data.

Boston DataLabs features two core dashboards. The Payroll Dashboard provides access to city employee compensation data dating back to 2011 — allowing users to identify top earners, track how pay has changed over time, filter by department, and view detailed breakdowns of pay categories such as base pay, overtime, and injury compensation. The Budget Dashboard, with data available from 2017 onward, offers a clear view of how Boston’s operating budget is allocated by category, cabinet, and initiative, as well as a breakdown of city revenue sources by type. Together, these tools deliver valuable context for understanding the city’s fiscal priorities, operational trends, and the financial decisions that shape Boston’s communities.