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Operations Management Degree in Providence, RI — Salary & ROI 2026

Operations Management degree analysis for Providence, RI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.

Starting Salary

$71K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$130K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

6.2 yrs

in Providence

Cost of Living

141

index (100 = avg)

Operations Management in Providence, RI Overview

Providence, Rhode Island (pop. 190,934) has 7 colleges offering Operations Management programs. The local cost of living index of 141 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,476/month. Operations Management enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Process Improvement and Lean/Six Sigma. The adjusted starting salary in Providence is approximately $70,500, growing to $129,720 by mid-career.

Category

Business

Local Colleges

7

Public Tuition

$15,259/yr

Private Tuition

$59,540/yr

Room & Board

$17,733/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$15,708/yr

Unemployment

4.3%

Graduation Rate

54%

Operations Management Salary in Providence (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Providence's cost of living index of 141 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$70,500(+$20,500 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$129,720(+$37,720 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$166,380(+$48,380 vs national)

Note: National average Operations Management salary: $50,000 starting, $92,000 mid-career, $118,000 senior level.Providence adjustment factor: 1.41x based on the local cost of living index.

Operations Management ROI Calculator for Providence

Estimate your return on investment for a Operations Management degree using local Providence tuition and cost of living data.

Public avg: $15,259 | Private avg: $59,540

Providence avg aid: $15,708/yr

Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%

Total Education Cost

$131,968

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$21,150

vs HS diploma in Providence

ROI Payback Period

6.2 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Providence

$883,232

Lifetime earnings premium ($1,015,200) minus total education cost ($131,968)

Student Loan Payoff for Operations Management in Providence

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$131,968
Monthly Payment$1,498
Total Interest$47,848
% of Monthly Income26%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$131,968
Monthly Payment$2,582
Total Interest$22,958
Interest Savings$24,890

Colleges in Providence for Operations Management

Brown University

private

$62,680/yr

$250,720 total

Providence College

private

$56,400/yr

$225,600 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Community College of Rhode Island

$4,994/yr

Top Employers for Operations Management in Providence

Providence offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Operations Management graduates. National top employers in this field include:

AmazonToyotaFedExUPSProcter & Gamble

Key Providence Hiring Sectors for Business

Financial services

Consulting firms

Fortune 500 companies

Startups

Marketing agencies

Common Operations Management Job Titles

Operations ManagerProcess Improvement AnalystPlant Manager

Operations Management Degree in Providence — FAQ

Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.

Explore More

Compare Operations Management ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Providence.

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