State salary profile · Rhode Island

Rhode Island Salaries

Largest Rhode Island OEWS employment footprints with published wages, from BLS May 2025. Published local OEWS coverage includes Providence-Warwick, RI-MA.

$194,047
Mean of top 50 medians
544
Occupations
1
Local wage areas
27,500
Estimated jobs (top tier)

The equal-weighted mean of the top 50 published occupation medians in Rhode Island is $194,047.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, The May 2025 release has a published median for 544 occupations in Rhode Island; percentile boundaries and local-area rows are available only where BLS publishes them. The highest-paying reported occupation, Emergency Medicine Physicians, earns $512,730, versus $31,200 for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists at the bottom of the range. Detail is available for 1 metro area. Published local OEWS coverage includes Providence-Warwick, RI-MA.

Rhode Island · employment ≠ wage

In Rhode Island, Fast Food and Counter Workers lead by published employment (13,310 jobs, #1 of 498) but rank #494 of 498 on median wage ($31,490), while Emergency Medicine Physicians top the wage list at $512,730 (#1 of 498) with 290 jobs (#266 of 498). The largest payroll is not the highest published median.

13,310
Fast Food and Counter Work... employment #1
$512,730
Emergency Medicine Physici... wage #1
#266
Employment rank of wage leader
#494
Wage rank of employment leader

Employment is OEWS tot_emp inside this state; pay is the occupation median. Same detailed-occupation pool, two rankings.

Employment of Rhode Island's #1 occupations by headcount vs median wage

Same unit (published jobs) for both named leaders. BLS OEWS May 2025.

jobs

What this shows Fast Food and Counter Workers lead Rhode Island by employment; Emergency Medicine Physicians lead on median wage at $512,730.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS As of May 2025

Rhode Island, the picture in one line

Rhode Island ranks #13 of 54 states and territories by BLS-published All Occupations annual mean wage; its highest published occupation median is Emergency Medicine Physicians at $512,730. Published local OEWS coverage includes Providence-Warwick, RI-MA.

#13
of 54 states by published mean wage
$512,730
top-paying: Emergency Medicine Physicians
76th
percentile among all states
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
local OEWS: Providence-Warwick, RI-MA

The state rank uses BLS's All Occupations mean. Occupation rows below use occupation-specific medians; the two statistics are not interchangeable. Start local checks in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA.

Largest published OEWS footprints in Rhode Island

Software Developers and Financial Managers lead Rhode Island's published employment inside this top-pay sample, order follows OEWS job counts, not median wage.

  1. 1. Software Developers 5,070 jobs · $130,590
  2. 2. Financial Managers 2,570 jobs · $166,940
  3. 3. Computer Systems Analysts 1,850 jobs · $134,630
  4. 4. Lawyers 1,840 jobs · $138,960
  5. 5. Pharmacists 1,510 jobs · $128,180
  6. 6. Computer and Information Systems Managers 1,210 jobs · $167,270
  7. 7. Physicians, All Other 1,180 jobs · $228,590
  8. 8. Nurse Practitioners 1,180 jobs · $135,970
  9. 9. Sales Managers 1,120 jobs · $154,970
  10. 10. Electronics Engineers, Except Computer 970 jobs · $136,360
  11. 11. Physician Assistants 810 jobs · $139,930
  12. 12. Managers, All Other 790 jobs · $165,900
  13. 13. Administrative Services Managers 780 jobs · $128,980
  14. 14. Human Resources Managers 530 jobs · $167,110
  15. 15. Chief Executives 460 jobs · $235,360
  16. 16. Computer Network Architects 460 jobs · $131,320
  17. 17. Veterinarians 430 jobs · $126,570
  18. 18. Teachers and Instructors, All Other 410 jobs · $130,480
  19. 19. Architectural and Engineering Managers 370 jobs · $175,910
  20. 20. Dentists, General 360 jobs · $161,560

Local BLS wage areas inside Rhode Island

Published local OEWS coverage includes Providence-Warwick, RI-MA.

Providence-Warwick, RI-MA

Observed statewide pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2024–2025

May 2024 → May 2025
  • BLS's published All Occupations median in Rhode Island moved from $54,040 in May 2024 to $56,780 in May 2025 (+5.1%).
  • Across the 54 states and territories priced in both releases, the median place changed +2.7%.
  • Rhode Island sits +2.3 pp ahead of that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Home Health and Personal Care Aides shows the widest statewide vs national median gap in Rhode Island

Home Health and Personal Care Aides publishes $43,680 here versus $35,800 nationally (+22.0%; 7,490statewide jobs). Next is Accountants and Auditors at $95,820 locally versus $83,680 nationally (+14.5%).

  1. Home Health and Personal Care Aides$43,680 in Rhode Island sits 22.0% above the national Home Health and Personal Care Aides median of $35,800 (7,490 published local jobs).
  2. Accountants and Auditors$95,820 in Rhode Island sits 14.5% above the national Accountants and Auditors median of $83,680 (6,570 published local jobs).
  3. General and Operations Managers$117,380 in Rhode Island sits 11.0% above the national General and Operations Managers median of $105,770 (9,150 published local jobs).
  4. Nursing Assistants$46,440 in Rhode Island sits 9.9% above the national Nursing Assistants median of $42,260 (10,220 published local jobs).

Home Health and Personal Care Aides and the other occupations above are descriptive OEWS endpoints for Rhode Island; they are not findings about taxes, employers, or worker experience.

· Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

The Rhode Island OEWS table has a published median for 544 occupations. The displayed top 50 rows have summed published employment of approximately 27,500; that sum does not include the bottom table or rows whose employment is suppressed. BLS publishes means and percentile boundaries only where the corresponding estimate meets its publication standards. Averaging the medians of the top 50 highest-paying occupations gives $194,047 per year. That is only a mean of the displayed upper-tier occupation medians; it is not the BLS All Occupations mean or median and does not describe a typical worker. Published local OEWS coverage includes Providence-Warwick, RI-MA.

At the top of the ranking, Emergency Medicine Physicians pays a Rhode Island median of $512,730, the highest-paying reported occupation in the state. The number-two spot goes to Family Medicine Physicians at $467,160, followed by Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric at $450,370. At the bottom of the published range, Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists has a median of $31,200, making the displayed endpoint ratio 16.4×. The endpoints do not establish a cause or career stage. WageDex has BLS occupation rows for 1 metro area assigned to Rhode Island, allowing comparisons below the statewide estimate without treating nonmetropolitan areas as MSAs.

The employment-ordered lead of Software Developers / Financial Managers is the Rhode Island mix signal in this sample; the salary-ordered top of Emergency Medicine Physicians answers a different question. Neither row identifies why pay differs, open the occupation page for percentiles and local-area cells BLS actually releases.

Top-Tier Sample

75

occupations shown below

Avg. Median Salary

$194,047

top 50 occupations

Top Salary

$512,730

Emergency Medicine Physicians

Where Rhode Island ranks by published mean wage

BLS All Occupations annual mean vs. 54 states & territories; local OEWS includes Providence-Warwick, RI-MA

$71,900 Top 24% higher than 76% of 54 states & territories

$0–$5,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $5,000–$10,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $10,000–$15,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$25,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 1 states & territories (2%). Below this entry. $40,000–$45,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $45,000–$50,000: 1 states & territories (2%). Below this entry. $50,000–$55,000: 3 states & territories (6%). Below this entry. $55,000–$60,000: 8 states & territories (15%). Below this entry. $60,000–$65,000: 16 states & territories (30%). Below this entry. $65,000–$70,000: 8 states & territories (15%). Below this entry. $70,000–$75,000: 8 states & territories (15%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$80,000: 4 states & territories (7%). Above this entry. $80,000–$85,000: 3 states & territories (6%). Above this entry. $85,000–$90,000: 1 states & territories (2%). Above this entry. $90,000–$95,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Above this entry. $95,000–$100,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Above this entry. $100,000–$105,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Above this entry. $105,000–$110,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Above this entry. $110,000–$115,000: 1 states & territories (2%). Above this entry. This state $0 $115,000 every state & territory, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more states & territories. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$5,000 0 states & territories 0%
$5,000–$10,000 0 states & territories 0%
$10,000–$15,000 0 states & territories 0%
$15,000–$20,000 0 states & territories 0%
$20,000–$25,000 0 states & territories 0%
$25,000–$30,000 0 states & territories 0%
$30,000–$35,000 0 states & territories 0%
$35,000–$40,000 1 states & territories 2%
$40,000–$45,000 0 states & territories 0%
$45,000–$50,000 1 states & territories 2%
$50,000–$55,000 3 states & territories 6%
$55,000–$60,000 8 states & territories 15%
$60,000–$65,000 16 states & territories 30%
$65,000–$70,000 8 states & territories 15%
$70,000–$75,000 (this entry) 8 states & territories 15%
$75,000–$80,000 4 states & territories 7%
$80,000–$85,000 3 states & territories 6%
$85,000–$90,000 1 states & territories 2%
$90,000–$95,000 0 states & territories 0%
$95,000–$100,000 0 states & territories 0%
$100,000–$105,000 0 states & territories 0%
$105,000–$110,000 0 states & territories 0%
$110,000–$115,000 1 states & territories 2%

$71,900 · 76th percentile of 54 states & territories

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Rhode Island ranks #13 of 54 by BLS-published All Occupations annual mean wage ($71,900). It is not the median wage or a prediction for a particular worker.

National-price-equivalent mean: dividing the $71,900 BLS All Occupations mean by the BEA state RPP gives $70,283. Inputs: BEA Regional Price Parity for Rhode Island (RPP 102.3, 2024; 100 = national average, all items, table SARPP). The division is a WageDex calculation, not an after-tax or household-income measure.

Largest OEWS footprints in Rhode Island

Published employment among the top-pay sample, top 15 by jobs

jobs
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS As of May 2025

BLS publishes wage data for 544 distinct occupations in Rhode Island. The table below shows the top 50 by median annual wage, reordered by published employment for this reading. Drill into the full top-100 ranking or the fastest-growing list for deeper coverage.

Top-pay occupations in Rhode Island, by employment

View all 100 →

Same top-pay sample as the salary ranking, sorted by published Rhode Island jobs so the title sequence follows the local OEWS mix.

# Occupation Median Salary
1 Software Developers $130,590
2 Financial Managers $166,940
3 Computer Systems Analysts $134,630
4 Lawyers $138,960
5 Pharmacists $128,180
6 Computer and Information Systems Managers $167,270
7 Physicians, All Other $228,590
8 Nurse Practitioners $135,970
9 Sales Managers $154,970
10 Electronics Engineers, Except Computer $136,360
11 Physician Assistants $139,930
12 Managers, All Other $165,900
13 Administrative Services Managers $128,980
14 Human Resources Managers $167,110
15 Chief Executives $235,360
16 Computer Network Architects $131,320
17 Veterinarians $126,570
18 Teachers and Instructors, All Other $130,480
19 Architectural and Engineering Managers $175,910
20 Dentists, General $161,560
21 General Internal Medicine Physicians $379,490
22 Emergency Medicine Physicians $512,730
23 Psychiatrists $287,610
24 Optometrists $134,520
25 Fundraising Managers $155,970
26 Purchasing Managers $134,560
27 Family Medicine Physicians $467,160
28 Public Relations Managers $156,080
29 Natural Sciences Managers $130,480
30 Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric $450,370
31 Pediatricians, General $218,080
32 Database Architects $140,320
33 Obstetricians and Gynecologists $166,390
34 Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other $126,630
35 Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates $239,760
36 Psychologists, All Other $130,960
37 Nurse Midwives $135,180
38 Cardiologists $395,610
39 Advertising and Promotions Managers $157,890
40 Podiatrists $159,760
41 Compensation and Benefits Managers $149,340
42 Air Traffic Controllers $126,300
43 Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers $164,880
44 Sales Engineers $149,750
45 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons $414,060
46 Physicians, Pathologists $322,950
47 Surgeons, All Other $199,990
48 Physicists $155,150
49 Law Teachers, Postsecondary $128,490
50 Commercial Divers $126,320

Lowest Paying Jobs in Rhode Island

Occupation Median Salary
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists $31,200
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other $31,200
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $31,200
Crossing Guards and Flaggers $31,200
Physical Therapist Aides $31,200
Amusement and Recreation Attendants $31,220
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop $31,400
Fast Food and Counter Workers $31,490
Machine Feeders and Offbearers $32,770
Dishwashers $33,960
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers $34,040
Driver/Sales Workers $34,230
Baggage Porters and Bellhops $34,300
Parking Attendants $34,390
Food Processing Workers, All Other $34,770
Medical Transcriptionists $34,790
Retail Salespersons $34,860
Cashiers $34,860
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant $34,860
Barbers $34,900
Manicurists and Pedicurists $34,910
Cooks, Fast Food $35,230
Waiters and Waitresses $35,420
Food Preparation Workers $35,470
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $35,770

Fastest Growing Jobs

View all 50 →

See national growth projections alongside the published OEWS state employment estimates for each occupation in Rhode Island. Based on BLS employment projections 2024-2034.

Metro and Nonmetropolitan Wage Areas in Rhode Island

Providence-Warwick, RI-MA

Salary Guides

Best States for Salaries

Which states pay the most and why

Salary vs. Cost of Living

Compare local wage and price-level benchmarks

Fastest Growing Occupations

Where the job growth is heading

Nationwide states with similar All Occupations pay or employment scale

Two BLS OEWS peer sets outside Rhode Island. Local metro cards below stay inside this state; these neighborhoods are cross-state nearest neighbors on published All Occupations mean wage ($71,900 here) and reported employment (501,340 jobs here).

Similar mean wage

Nearest other states by BLS All Occupations annual mean wage.

Similar employment scale

Nearest headcount peers (floor 250,000 All Occupations jobs), distinct from the mean-wage column.

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS All Occupations mean annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude states already listed in the mean-wage column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Related Rhode Island pages

Published local OEWS coverage includes Providence-Warwick, RI-MA.

Providence-Warwick, RI-MA

Local OEWS wage area

Highest Paying in Rhode Island

Top 100 by median salary

Fastest Growing in Rhode Island

Projected 2024-2034 growth

Emergency Medicine Physicians

National occupation profile

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average of the top 50 occupation medians in Rhode Island? ▼
The equal-weighted mean of the top 50 published occupation medians is $194,047/year (BLS OEWS May 2025). It is not the statewide mean or median and does not describe the wage of a typical worker.
What is the average salary in Rhode Island? ▼
BLS publishes an All Occupations annual mean wage of $71,900/year for Rhode Island in the May 2025 OEWS release, which ranks 13th among the 54 states and territories with a published mean. Published local OEWS coverage includes Providence-Warwick, RI-MA. This is an occupational wage estimate, not a household-income statistic or a prediction for one worker.
What is the highest paying job in Rhode Island? ▼
The highest paying occupation in Rhode Island is Emergency Medicine Physicians with a median salary of $512,730/year according to BLS data. The second highest is Family Medicine Physicians at $467,160/year.
What jobs pay the least in Rhode Island? ▼
The lowest published occupation median in this Rhode Island ranking is Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists at $31,200/year. The table does not classify that occupation as entry-level or explain why its median is lowest.
How many local BLS wage areas are shown for Rhode Island? ▼
WageDex has occupation-level wage rows for 1 metro area assigned to Rhode Island. Published local OEWS coverage includes Providence-Warwick, RI-MA. Nonmetropolitan reporting areas are not MSAs. Compare the same occupation and statistic across areas; published coverage can differ by occupation and geography.
How many occupations are shown for Rhode Island? ▼
BLS publishes wage data for 544 distinct occupations in Rhode Island. The 50 occupations in the displayed upper tier have a combined OEWS employment estimate of approximately 27,500 jobs in covered establishments.

Federal sources behind Rhode Island wages

BLS OEWS state wage tables → BLS QCEW state series → BLS LAUS unemployment → BEA personal income by state →

What to do with this data

How to use Rhode Island wage data in a real decision

  • Software Developers anchors the largest published OEWS footprint in Rhode Island, ahead of Financial Managers; hold that mix next to Providence-Warwick, RI-MA when the pay table alone does not describe the local mix. Software Developers
  • Open Emergency Medicine Physicians for percentile bands and local-area rows; Rhode Island's statewide median of $512,730 uses a different geography than any single metro estimate. Emergency Medicine Physicians
  • The published Rhode Island range runs from Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists at $31,200 to Emergency Medicine Physicians at $512,730; an offer still depends on the exact role and employer. Salary calculator

BLS OEWS estimates reflect the May 2025 reference period and exclude self-employed workers; some small occupation-area cells are suppressed.

Last updated: May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

State-level employment totals and local-area breakouts from BLS OEWS State and Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, May 2025. Local areas can be metropolitan or nonmetropolitan.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. State wage figures are computed directly from BLS OEWS state-level data. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Statewide figures are estimates and may not reflect pay in your specific local wage area or employer.