Bartender Salary in Providence, RI
Bartenders in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area earn a median $35,680 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,128 take-home, or $2,511 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Providence, RI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,102
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,212
- Medicare (1.45%)$517
- Rhode Island income tax$721
- Take-home pay$30,128
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.
Bartender pay by experience in Providence, RI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,696 | $2,225 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,696 | $2,225 |
| Median (50th) | $35,680 | $17.15 | $30,128 | $2,511 |
| 75th percentile | $53,880 | $25.90 | $44,069 | $3,672 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $70,620 | $33.95 | $56,480 | $4,707 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Rhode Island resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,680 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 bartender's $30,128 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,603 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Providence, RI has 1.3× the national concentration of bartender jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Providence, RI ranks #85 of 237 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $86,280 | $64,501 | $58,962 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $75,340 | $57,636 | $51,943 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $55,820 | $47,031 | $46,994 |
| 4 | Bellingham, WA | $56,110 | $47,264 | $45,739 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $58,180 | $48,928 | $44,026 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $61,220 | $48,661 | $43,230 |
| 7 | Bremerton, WA | $53,810 | $45,416 | $43,005 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $54,170 | $43,231 | $42,442 |
| 85 | Providence, RI | $35,680 | $30,128 | $29,603 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 237 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Providence, RI?
The median bartender salary in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area is $35,680 a year, or about $17.15 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,200 and $53,880.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Providence, RI?
On the median $35,680 salary, a single filer living in Rhode Island takes home about $30,128 a year ($2,511 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $721 in Rhode Island taxes in 2026.
Is Providence, RI a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 1.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,603 would in a typical U.S. city. Providence, RI ranks #85 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender 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) — 57% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Providence, RI
- Chef and Head Cook — $79,340
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,640
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $46,350
- Cooks, Short Order — $44,050
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,460
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,250
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,750
- Cooks, Fast Food — $35,260
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,870
- Dishwasher — $34,640
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,700
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $31,200