Lead IT Service Manager.
Providence.
$166,000
median salary, 7% above the national average
$130,000 to $216,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
The median Lead IT Service Manager salary in Providence is $166,000, 7% above the national average. Entry level starts near $130,000. Experienced professionals push past $216,000. Providence sits between Boston and New York, benefiting from both labor markets. That spread is your negotiation window.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $149,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$108,000
to $133,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$141,000
to $174,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$183,000
to $216,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$208,000
to $257,000
Salary trend
+4% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $48,000 to the total package.
Base
$166,000
Equity
$28,000
Bonus
$17,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $214,000
How Providence compares
Providence, RI
$166,000
Cost of living: 4% above average
National Average
$155,000
Providence is $11,000 above
Lead IT Service Manager salary by city
Salary by role in Providence
What you should know
If you are interviewing for Lead IT Service Manager roles in Providence, here is what you are walking into. 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. Lead IT Service Manager compensation scales with team size under management, scope of organizational responsibility, and track record of hiring and retaining talent. Base salary carries most of the total compensation, with bonuses adding roughly 8% in a typical year. At the mid-management level, the scope of the organization under management ($10M budget vs $100M+) drives the largest compensation variance.
Lead IT Service Managers progress Manager → Senior Manager → Director → Senior Director → VP → SVP → C-suite over 12 to 20 years. Each step adds org scope roughly 3x (manage 6 → 20 → 60 → 200 → 500+ people). The biggest inflection is Director → VP, which requires demonstrated P&L responsibility. For Lead IT Service Managers specifically, the seniority anchor typically means 7 to 12 years of experience with demonstrated independent scope. 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. Total compensation for Lead IT Service Managers runs roughly $167K at median when factoring base + typical bonus (~8% of base). Base salary carries most of the compensation; benefits (healthcare, 401(k) match, PTO) add an estimated 15–25% in imputed value on top. At management levels, variable compensation (bonus + LTIP) grows as a share of total — expect 30–50% variable at director and 50%+ variable at VP and above. 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 $166,000, 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 Lead IT Service Managers in Providence runs from $130,000 to $216,000. 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 AI/GenAI Sales Engineer in Providence earns $165,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Providence is Technical Fellow at $364,000
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