Software Developer Salary in Providence, RI
Software Developers in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area earn a median $130,690 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $95,987 take-home, or $7,999 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Providence, RI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,100
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,103
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,895
- Rhode Island income tax$4,606
- Take-home pay$95,987
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.75% state
The Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro spans Rhode Island, Massachusetts. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Software Developer pay by experience in Providence, RI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $84,130 | $40.45 | $65,477 | $5,456 |
| 25th percentile | $101,950 | $49.01 | $77,311 | $6,443 |
| Median (50th) | $130,690 | $62.83 | $95,987 | $7,999 |
| 75th percentile | $159,540 | $76.70 | $114,335 | $9,528 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,090 | $82.74 | $122,317 | $10,193 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Rhode Island resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $130,690 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 software developer's $95,987 take-home pay has the buying power of $94,315 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Software Developer jobs are less concentrated in Providence, RI than nationally (location quotient 0.65), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Providence, RI ranks #103 of 184 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $213,110 | $140,222 | $126,987 |
| 2 | Manchester, NH | $162,090 | $122,055 | $115,520 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $167,280 | $125,602 | $113,019 |
| 4 | Boulder, CO | $164,560 | $117,211 | $111,415 |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | $127,310 | $98,282 | $109,310 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $166,090 | $116,704 | $107,794 |
| 7 | Ames, IA | $129,440 | $95,471 | $107,476 |
| 8 | Bridgeport, CT | $162,650 | $114,828 | $107,453 |
| 103 | Providence, RI | $130,690 | $95,987 | $94,315 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 184 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Providence, RI?
The median software developer salary in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area is $130,690 a year, or about $62.83 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $101,950 and $159,540.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Providence, RI?
On the median $130,690 salary, a single filer living in Rhode Island takes home about $95,987 a year ($7,999 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,606 in Rhode Island taxes in 2026.
Is Providence, RI a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 1.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $94,315 would in a typical U.S. city. Providence, RI ranks #103 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer 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) — 18% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Providence, RI
- Computer Network Architect — $131,320
- Computer Systems Analyst — $128,580
- Computer and Information Research Scientist — $123,390
- Information Security Analyst — $109,940
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $102,750
- Data Scientist — $102,440
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $101,610
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $101,450
- Computer Network Support Specialist — $82,560
- Computer User Support Specialist — $62,410