Pawtucket Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Pawtucket, RI: $17.21/hr median hourly wage, $35,795 median annual salary, cost of living index 100.5, and $14.00/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Rhode Island taxes.
Pawtucket Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Pawtucket, RI is $17.21/hr, equivalent to $35,795 per year at 2,080 work hours. Entry-level pay estimates around $10.67/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $24.44/hr, and the local minimum wage is $14.00/hr.
Median Salary
$35,795
$17.21/hr
Cost of Living
100.5
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$14.00
per hour
Unemployment
3.3%
rate
Pawtucket, RI Overview
Population
75,604
Median Salary
$35,795
Average Salary
$40,090
Avg Commute
20 min
Median Home Price
$275,000
Median Rent
$1,138/mo
Job Growth
+1.9%
Sales Tax
7%
Pawtucket is located in Rhode Island with a population of 75,604. The median household salary is $35,795 per year ($17.21/hour), which is $23,589 below the national median of $59,384. The average commute time is 20 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1.9%.
Pawtucket Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Pawtucket, RI based on BLS percentile breakdown of the $35,795 median salary. Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $22,193 | $10.67/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $35,795 | $17.21/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $50,829 | $24.44/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $63,715 | $30.63/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) derived from 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics distribution across all occupations in metro areas. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Pawtucket Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Pawtucket, RI, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$28,797
$2,399.76/month · $1,107.58/biweekly · Effective Rate: 19.5%
Gross Pay
$35,795
Federal Tax
-$2,115
State Tax
-$2,144
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$2,738
Net Pay
$28,797
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $2,982.92 | $35,795.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$176.28 | -$2,115.40 |
| Rhode Island State Tax (5.99%) | -$178.68 | -$2,144.12 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$184.94 | -$2,219.29 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$43.25 | -$519.03 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $2,399.76 | $28,797.16 |
Salary Comparison: Pawtucket vs Other Cities
See how Pawtucket's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pawtucket, RI | $35,795 | 100.5 | $35,617 |
| National Average | $59,384 | 100 | $59,384 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $35,794 | 86.2 | $41,524 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $35,799 | 82.5 | $43,393 |
| Kissimmee, FL | $35,800 | 96.8 | $36,983 |
| Dothan, AL | $35,790 | 82.5 | $43,382 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Pawtucket
Pawtucket's cost of living index is 100.5 (national average = 100). Living in Pawtucket is 0.5% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$275,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,138
Annual Rent Cost
$13,656
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $28,797 annual take-home pay in Pawtucket has the purchasing power of approximately $28,654 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $35,974 in Pawtucket to match a $35,795 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in Pawtucket
Pawtucket's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $35,795.
Salary Tips for Pawtucket Workers
- Maximize pre-tax deductions. With a 5.99% state income tax rate, maximizing 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026) and HSA contributions can significantly reduce both your federal and state tax burden.
- Research top industries. Pawtucket's top industries include Healthcare, Education, Defense. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $35,795 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Pawtucket salary data: Our citywide compensation figures aggregate occupation-specific salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for the Pawtucket-RI metropolitan statistical area (MSA), weighted by local employment counts. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Pawtucket indexed at 100.5.
- Median salary calculation: weighted average of Pawtucket's occupation-specific medians from BLS OEWS, adjusted for local cost of living. Net result: $35,795 annual median.
- Tax burden reflects Rhode Island state income tax (5.99%) (no local income tax), sales tax (7%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Pawtucket: 3.3%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Healthcare, Education, Defense — based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1.9% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Rhode Island.
- Housing context: median home price $275,000, median rent $1,138/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Pawtucket, RI:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — Pawtucket unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau — Pawtucket QuickFacts — population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) — county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance — Rhode Island — state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) — local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Pawtucket's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines — always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Rhode Island labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk· Last updated 2026 · BLS & Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Pawtucket, RI?
The median hourly wage in Pawtucket, RI is $17.21 per hour. At a standard 2,080-hour work year, that equals about $35,795 per year. Entry-level workers are estimated around $10.67/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $24.44/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits.
What is the median salary in Pawtucket, RI?
The median salary in Pawtucket, RI is $35,795 per year, or $17.21 per hour. The average salary is $40,090. This is $23,589 below the national median of $59,384.
What is the cost of living in Pawtucket, RI?
Pawtucket's cost of living index is 100.5 (national average = 100), meaning it is 0.5% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $275,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,138.
What are the best industries in Pawtucket?
The top industries in Pawtucket, RI include Healthcare, Education, Defense. The city has a job growth rate of 1.9% and an unemployment rate of 3.3%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $35,795.
How does Pawtucket's salary compare to other cities?
Pawtucket's median salary of $35,795 is 39.7% below the national median of $59,384. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 100.5), the real purchasing power is approximately $35,617.
What is the minimum wage in Pawtucket, RI?
The minimum wage in Pawtucket, RI is $14.00 per hour. This equals approximately $29,120 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $6.75 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.