Average Salaries in Rhode Island
Explore salaries across 551 occupations in Rhode Island. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $70.5K, +14.6% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2024 estimates. Coverage: 551 occupations and 473,130 total jobs in Rhode Island.
How the state compares
Rhode Island pays modestly above the national average. Most occupations here earn more than their national equivalents, but the gap is smaller than in top-tier markets.
Rhode Island has a smaller labor market. Some occupations may have limited local demand or a narrower range of employers.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Physicians, All Other. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in Rhode Island
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Top wages
Highest-paid occupations in Rhode Island
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | $229.3K | 1,290 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $223.3K | 340 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $216.2K | 280 |
| Chief Executives | $211.8K | N/A |
| Pediatricians, General | $210.2K | 220 |
| Compensation And Benefits Managers | $183.1K | 40 |
| Marketing Managers | $171.3K | 1,120 |
| Architectural And Engineering Managers | $170.4K | 330 |
| Human Resources Managers | $165.4K | 370 |
| Computer And Information Systems Managers | $165.0K | 1,010 |
Most jobs
Largest occupations in Rhode Island
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 12,650 | $30.5K |
| Retail Salespersons | 11,460 | $34.9K |
| Waiters And Waitresses | 11,010 | $42.6K |
| Registered Nurses | 10,760 | $100.0K |
| Cashiers | 9,710 | $31.0K |
| General And Operations Managers | 9,060 | $122.0K |
| Home Health And Personal Care Aides | 8,800 | $41.9K |
| Nursing Assistants | 8,450 | $44.2K |
| Office Clerks, General | 8,360 | $46.6K |
| Customer Service Representatives | 8,260 | $46.5K |
What Rhode Island specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in Rhode Island than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Location quotient
Most concentrated occupations in Rhode Island
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Textile Bleaching And Dyeing Machine Operators And Tenders | 9.56 | $45.9K |
| Healthcare Diagnosing Or Treating Practitioners, All Other | 8.98 | $87.1K |
| Jewelers And Precious Stone And Metal Workers | 8.24 | $47.3K |
| Textile Knitting And Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, And Tenders | 5.94 | $31.4K |
| Motorboat Mechanics And Service Technicians | 5.14 | $55.5K |
| Medical Appliance Technicians | 5.07 | $46.1K |
| Grinding And Polishing Workers, Hand | 4.37 | $49.1K |
| Extruding And Forming Machine Setters, Operators, And Tenders, Synthetic And Glass Fibers | 4.36 | $47.5K |
| Model Makers, Metal And Plastic | 4.14 | $33.3K |
| Music Directors And Composers | 4.03 | N/A |
Peer markets
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $86.2K | Obstetricians And Gynecologists |
| California | $77.6K | Chief Executives |
| Washington | $77.0K | Podiatrists |
| New York | $76.7K | Physicians, All Other |
| Massachusetts | $75.6K | Dentists, All Other Specialists |
| New Jersey | $73.7K | Physicians, All Other |
| Alaska | $73.0K | Dentists, General |
| Connecticut | $72.7K | Nurse Anesthetists |
Metros inside Rhode Island
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Inside this state
Major metros in Rhode Island
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $69.7K | 688,310 |
Common salary questions for Rhode Island
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other states with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.