CallataGuides

Business phone system for computer systems design services firms in Massachusetts

1,030 computer systems design services firms operated in Massachusetts in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.

Establishments
1,030CBP 2023
Employees
20,514mid-March 2023
Per 100k residents
14.4U.S. 17.1
State rank
16th of 51by count

Computer systems design services firms in Massachusetts by the numbers

County Business Patterns counts 1,030 establishments in Massachusetts classified as Computer Systems Design Services (NAICS 541512) for 2023. They employed 20,514 people in mid-March and reported $2.7 billion in annual payroll. That is the 16th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Computer systems design services firms make up 0.56% of the 183,767 business establishments in the state.

Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Massachusetts has 14.4 computer systems design services firms, 15.5% below the national rate of 17.1. The average establishment has 19.9 employees against 13.2 nationally. Payroll per employee is $129,757, 6.2% above the U.S. figure of $122,171.

Computer systems design services firms: Massachusetts compared with the U.S., 2023
MeasureMassachusettsUnited States
Establishments1,03058,113
Mid-March employees20,514766,160
Annual payroll$2,661,842,000$93,602,442,000
Employees per establishment19.913.2
Payroll per employee$129,757$122,171
Establishments per 100,000 residents14.417.1

Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.

Massachusetts's largest markets for computer systems design services firms

Census published IT services firm counts for 7 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Massachusetts. The largest is Boston, MA-NH, with 892 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 16% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.

Computer systems design services firms by metro or micropolitan area, Massachusetts, 2023
AreaEstablishmentsEmployeesPer 100k residents
Boston, MA-NH89217,50817.7
Providence, RI-MA1814,38310.6
Worcester, MA1061,93512.0
Springfield, MA213674.5
Barnstable Town, MA181367.7
Pittsfield, MA11798.5
Amherst Town, MA10—6.0

Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.

Team sizes at computer systems design services firms in Massachusetts

61.9% of Massachusetts's computer systems design services firms with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 74.5% nationally. 74.3% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.

Computer systems design services firms in Massachusetts by employment size, 2023
Employment sizeEstablishmentsShareU.S. share
1–4 employees63661.9%74.5%
5–9 employees12812.5%9.7%
10–19 employees10410.1%6.5%
20–49 employees737.1%5.0%
50 or more employees878.5%4.4%

Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.

Calls an IT services firm in Massachusetts has to catch

Managed IT and systems integration firms field support calls that range from a forgotten password to a server outage. Clients judge them by how quickly someone answers when something breaks. That holds for computer systems design services firms in Massachusetts as much as anywhere.

A few of the calls that come in to computer systems design services firms in Massachusetts:

Business texting for computer systems design services firms

IT firms text maintenance windows and ticket updates.

Texting from a local number in Massachusetts requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.

What a phone system costs an IT services firm in Massachusetts

Computer systems design services firms in Massachusetts average 19.9 employees, so the comparison uses a 20-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $499.00 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $600.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $399.00 a month for 20 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.

Over a year, that is $2,412 less than RingCentral for an IT services firm in Massachusetts of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.

Monthly list price for a 20-person IT services firm
Provider (plan)Pricing basisPer monthPer year
Callata (Callata Office)$99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user$399.00$4,788.00
Quo (Starter)$19.00 per user$380.00$4,560.00
Nextiva (Core)$23.00 per user$460.00$5,520.00
Ooma (Office Pro)$24.95 per user$499.00$5,988.00
Dialpad (Standard)$27.00 per user$540.00$6,480.00
RingCentral (RingEX Core)$30.00 per user$600.00$7,200.00

Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.

Area codes in Massachusetts

Massachusetts has 9 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so an IT services firm can hold a number in more than one of them.

Area codes in Massachusetts by assigned exchanges
Area codeExchangesTime zoneIn service sinceOverlay with
978773Eastern1997351
781769Eastern1997339
617768Eastern1947857
508749Eastern1988774
413602Eastern1947none
774524Eastern2001508
857362Eastern2001617
339104Eastern2001781
35192Eastern2001978

Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.

How Callata works for computer systems design services firms in Massachusetts

Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.

Porting a number you already use in Massachusetts is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.

AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.

Frequently asked questions

How many computer systems design services firms are in Massachusetts?

1,030 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 20,514 people in mid-March.

Which Massachusetts metro area has the most computer systems design services firms?

Boston, MA-NH, with 892 establishments in 2023.

What does a phone system cost a 20-person IT services firm?

$600.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $499.00 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $399.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).

Do I need to register to text customers from a Massachusetts number?

Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.