Founder / Entrepreneur.
Providence.
$115,000
median salary, at the national average
$55,000 to $245,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
Providence is 4% more expensive than the national average. For Founder / Entrepreneurs, that shakes out to a median of $115,000, with the full range spanning $55,000 to $245,000. Funding stage, company revenue, and investor expectations create extreme variance in founder salaries. Know the range before you walk in.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $103,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$75,000
to $92,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$98,000
to $121,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$127,000
to $150,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$144,000
to $178,000
Salary trend
+4% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $30,000 to the total package.
Base
$115,000
Equity
$17,000
Bonus
$11,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $145,000
How Providence compares
Providence, RI
$115,000
Cost of living: 4% above average
National Average
$115,000
Same as local rate
Founder / Entrepreneur salary by city
Salary by role in Providence
What you should know
The Founder / Entrepreneur landscape in Providence is not what most salary sites will tell you. Providence sits between Boston and New York, benefiting from both labor markets. The city's economy is driven by healthcare, higher education, and a growing design and creative sector anchored by RISD. Defense and marine industries also contribute to the local job market. Funding stage, company revenue, and investor expectations create extreme variance in founder salaries. Pre-seed founders often take minimal salary or none at all, while Series B and later founders pay themselves competitive market rates. Revenue-generating bootstrapped founders set salaries based on profitability and personal financial needs.
Pre-seed founders take $0 to $60,000 in salary while building initial product. Seed-stage founders with institutional funding earn $75,000 to $120,000. Series A founders pay themselves $120,000 to $175,000. Series B and beyond allows $175,000 to $250,000, approaching market CEO rates. In Providence, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity is the primary compensation vehicle, with founders holding 10 to 100% ownership depending on stage and co-founders. Salary is secondary until profitability or institutional funding allows market-rate pay. Health insurance and minimal benefits are often the only non-equity compensation in early stages. And on the tax side: rhode Island's top income tax rate is 5.99%. Providence has no city income tax. The state rate is moderate for the Northeast, and proximity to Boston creates competitive salary pressure. When someone quotes you $115,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Reference Boston salary benchmarks. Providence employers know they compete for talent with Boston and will often offer 85 to 95% of Boston rates to attract professionals. The range for Founder / Entrepreneurs in Providence runs from $55,000 to $245,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A UX Designer in Providence earns $114,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Providence is Chief AI Officer at $332,000
Common questions.
Founder / Entrepreneur salary in other cities
Other salaries in Providence
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