$42 an Hour in Rhode Island — After-Tax Take-Home (2026)
At $42/hour (2,080 hours/year), your gross annual income is $87,360. After federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and Rhode Island state income tax, your take-home pay is $32.41/hr. In Rhode Island's high cost-of-living environment, this is a comfortable living wage in Rhode Island.
Pay Period Breakdown
Full Tax Breakdown — Rhode Island, Single Filer
How Does Rhode Island Compare?
See how $42/hr take-home differs in other states at the same wage:
Equivalent Annual Salary Pages
$42/hr = $87,360/year gross. See the full state-by-state salary breakdown:
Adjacent Rates in Rhode Island
Same Rate, Other States
Cost of Living in Rhode Island
- Avg 1BR rent in Providence: $1,500/mo — within budget (21% of gross monthly)
- Minimum comfortable income in Rhode Island: $50,000/yr
- Your net annual: $67,407 ($17,407 above comfortable threshold)
- Purchasing power equivalent in Texas: ~$35.3/hr
Working at $42/hr in Rhode Island
At this level in Rhode Island the 5.99% top rate applies. Healthcare and education are the primary high-wage employers. The Boston metro job market is accessible without paying Massachusetts income tax — a meaningful advantage for Rhode Island residents.
At ${rate}/hr, you work roughly 47 hours each month to cover a typical 1BR in Providence (${rent.toLocaleString()}/mo) -- that's within the 30% gross income guideline. This wage is 2.8x Rhode Island's minimum wage of ${ctx.minWage}/hr. Your combined effective tax rate at ${rate}/hr in Rhode Island is 22.8% -- federal income tax accounts for 11.9%, FICA 7.6%, and Rhode Island state tax 3.3%.
Rhode Island has a small economy anchored by healthcare (Lifespan, Care New England), education (Brown University, RISD), tourism (Newport), and a modest manufacturing sector. Proximity to Boston is a major economic driver.
Rhode Island has a progressive income tax with rates from 3.75% to 5.99%. The state has a standard deduction of $10,550 for single filers.
Rhode Island's minimum wage is $15.00/hr (2026).
Monthly Budget on $42/hr in Rhode Island
Based on $5,617/month take-home. Percentages follow common 50/30/20 guidelines adjusted for Rhode Island's cost of living.
Overtime Pay — $42/hr in Rhode Island
At time-and-a-half ($63.00/hr), here's what overtime adds to your annual net income in Rhode Island. Your marginal tax rate at this income level is ~27.2%.
Hours to Afford Common Purchases at $42/hr
How many hours of work (gross) to buy common items. Actual cost in after-tax hours is higher — divide by your $32.41 net hourly rate for the true cost in time.
Frequently Asked Questions
42 an hour -- is it a good wage in Rhode Island?
42/hr in Rhode Island gives you $67,407/year after taxes -- a comfortable living wage in Rhode Island. Avg 1BR rent in Providence: $1,500/month (within the 30% rule).
What is 42 an hour after taxes in Rhode Island?
42/hr in Rhode Island = $67,407/year or $5,617/month net. Effective rate: 22.8%.
How does 42/hr go further -- Rhode Island or Texas?
42/hr in Rhode Island has similar purchasing power to ~35.3/hr in Texas.
What does 42/hr look like as a monthly budget in Rhode Island?
On $5,617/month in Rhode Island: rent $1,500, food $674, transport $562, savings $562, surplus ~$1,420.
How much does overtime add at 42/hr in Rhode Island?
At 1.5x (63.00/hr OT), 5 extra hrs/week adds ~$11,450/year net; 10 hrs/week adds ~$22,950/year.