Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Firefighter Salary in Providence, RI

Firefighters in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area earn a median $66,150 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $53,468 take-home, or $4,456 a month.

Median salary
$66,150
$31.80 per hour
Typical range
$50,860 – $76,430
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Providence, RI
2,550
1.60× national concentration
▼3.1%
Pay trend: The median for firefighters in Providence, RI fell from $68,250 (May 2024) to $66,150 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 5.5%.

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Providence, RI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Firefighter in Providence, RI
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$53,468
per year · effective tax rate 19.2%
$4,456Monthly
$2,228Twice a month
$2,056Every 2 weeks
$25.71Hourly
  • Federal income tax$5,758
  • Social Security (6.2%)$4,101
  • Medicare (1.45%)$959
  • Rhode Island income tax$1,864
  • Take-home pay$53,468

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.75% state

The Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro spans Rhode Island, Massachusetts. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.

Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →

Firefighter pay by experience in Providence, RI

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$50,860$24.45$41,756$3,480
25th percentile$61,950$29.78$50,251$4,188
Median (50th)$66,150$31.80$53,468$4,456
75th percentile$74,950$36.03$59,364$4,947
90th percentile (top earners)$76,430$36.75$60,349$5,029

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Rhode Island resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $66,150 buys in Providence, RI

Prices in Providence, RI are 1.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.04× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $53,468 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,536 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,423
32% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,774
40% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$3,033
per month for everything else

Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Providence, RI has 1.6× the national concentration of firefighter jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.

Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living

Providence, RI ranks #20 of 34 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1Seattle, WA $101,090$79,947$71,938
2San Francisco, CA $113,700$80,995$70,057
3New York, NY $106,420$78,458$69,701
4Sacramento, CA $94,080$69,272$64,941
5Denver, CO $87,980$67,561$63,868
6Los Angeles, CA $98,050$71,644$63,086
7Chicago, IL $82,820$63,139$60,948
8Philadelphia, PA $78,050$61,342$59,814
20Providence, RI$66,150$53,468$52,536

*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 34 metros →

About the job: firefighters

Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, search and rescue, and disaster assistance.

Typical education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
+3.7% (about average)

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a firefighter make in Providence, RI?

The median firefighter salary in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area is $66,150 a year, or about $31.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,950 and $74,950.

What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Providence, RI?

On the median $66,150 salary, a single filer living in Rhode Island takes home about $53,468 a year ($4,456 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,864 in Rhode Island taxes in 2026.

Is Providence, RI a good place to work as a firefighter?

Pay here is 12% above the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 1.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,536 would in a typical U.S. city. Providence, RI ranks #20 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a firefighter afford rent in Providence, RI?

HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Providence, RI is $1,423 a month ($1,774 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

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