MA · OJT

How Massachusetts OJT Reimbursement Actually Works for Employers

Massachusetts OJT is a federal WIOA program run through MassHire Career Centers. You hire an eligible new employee, agree a training plan with your local career center first, and the center reimburses a percentage of the trainee's wages during training. Federal rules set the typical cap at 50% of wages, and up to 75% in documented cases. The state says your rate depends on business size but publishes no table, so ask your career center.

Check my Massachusetts eligibility How OJT works nationally

Reimbursa Eligibility Scanner

Tell us your state, industry, and recent training spend. We'll show you which workforce-reimbursement programs you likely qualify for — with estimated recoverable dollars — in about 30 seconds. No email required.

State pre-filled: MA
Program type pre-filled: OJT

Run My Free Scan

HOW IT WORKS

Four steps, in this order.

1
Contact your MassHire Career Center business services team
2
Agree the new hire, job and training plan
3
Train the new hire on the job
4
Submit payroll records and monthly evaluations for reimbursement

1 VERIFIED PROGRAM

Where the Massachusetts money comes from.

Run by MassHire Department of Career Services and local MassHire Career Centers. Every figure is from an official page, linked on each card.

WIOA On-the-Job Training through your local MassHire Career Center

Typically up to 50% of wages, 75% in documented cases

THROUGH YOUR LOCAL BOARD

WHAT YOU GET

Reimbursement of a percentage of wages during a pre-agreed training period. The Commonwealth says the rate depends on the size of your business. You do not have to document your extra training costs.

HOW MUCH

Federal rule: typically up to 50% of wages, up to 75% in limited cases under 20 CFR 680.730. A 2019 state waiver for up to 90% for employers with 50 or fewer employees ran only through June 30, 2020, and no current waiver was found. The state page publishes no percentage table, so confirm your rate with your career center.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The employer, as reimbursement for part of the trainee's wages. You pay the trainee as usual.

WHO QUALIFIES

Open to employers with a skilled opening they have not been able to fill
The trainee must be WIOA eligible and approved by the career center
You give the trainee the same pay and benefits as similar employees and plan to keep them on
Employers that relocated recently or laid off workers recently may be turned away
Already-employed workers only in limited cases

Before you start: Yes. A business visit, eligibility check and written training plan come first; reimbursement is only for training under the agreed plan.

LOCAL BOARDS

Same program, different rules by board.

MassHire Greater Brockton Career Center

Advertises 50% to 90% of wages by organization size for up to six months, on a page about an OJT National Emergency Grant project dated 2023. That is above the 75% federal cap and no current waiver was found; confirm the current rate with the center.

SOURCE: MASSHIREGBCC.ORG

MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center

Reimburses a percentage of wages for a set training period. It says OJT can also train existing employees for a new position. No rate is published.

SOURCE: MASSHIREFHCAREERS.ORG

MassHire Boston (ABCD)

Offers OJT with reimbursement of a percentage of new hire wages; no rate published.

SOURCE: MASSHIREBOSTONABCD.COM

MassHire Springfield and Holyoke

Describes OJT as pre-screened applicants you interview and choose; contacts listed for each center.

SOURCE: MASSHIRESPRINGFIELD.ORG

AVOID THESE

What gets Massachusetts OJT claims denied.

A history of not keeping past OJT trainees on as regular employees.
SOURCE: ECFR.GOV
A contract that runs longer than the trainee needs to become proficient.
SOURCE: ECFR.GOV
Putting an already-employed worker on OJT outside the narrow federal cases.
SOURCE: ECFR.GOV
Rates above 50% without the documented factors.
SOURCE: ECFR.GOV

STRAIGHT ANSWERS

Massachusetts OJT questions.

How much of a new hire's wages will a Massachusetts career center reimburse?

Federal rules set typically up to 50% and up to 75% in documented cases. The state says the rate is based on your business size but publishes no percentages. Ask your career center.

SOURCE: ECFR.GOV

Is the 90% rate for small employers still available?

A 2019 state notice describes a US DOL waiver to 90% for employers with 50 or fewer employees, approved only through June 30, 2020. No newer waiver was found. Treat any 90% claim as needing confirmation.

SOURCE: MASS.GOV

Do I have to prove my training costs?

No. Federal rules treat the payment as compensation for extra training costs and lower productivity, so you document hours and wages, not those costs.

SOURCE: ECFR.GOV

Can I use OJT for someone already on my payroll?

Only in limited cases set by the local board, such as new technology or an upgrade to a job needing added skills.

SOURCE: ECFR.GOV

How we checked. Every fact on this page comes from a state agency, a local workforce board or federal regulation, read on September 30, 2026. Where a board publishes nothing, we say so instead of guessing. Programs and funding change often; confirm with the program before you commit. Written by Jason Meehl, founder of Reimbursa. Found an error? Email hello@reimbursa.com.

OTHER PROGRAMS IN MASSACHUSETTS

Reimbursa monitors workforce-reimbursement programs across every state and writes machine-checkable rules packs that prevent claim rejections. See membership pricing.