Fastest growing jobs in Rhode Island, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in Rhode Island. Percent growth favours small occupations, so the openings column is often the more useful number — a fast-growing job with few openings is harder to enter than a flat one with many.

State projections are produced by Rhode Island's own workforce agency and collected by Projections Central — the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes projections only at the national level. Methodology varies by state, so these are not directly comparable with the national figures. Wages remain BLS OEWS.

Cost of living: prices in Rhode Island run 2.3% above the national average (2024), so a Rhode Island salary is worth about 0.98× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Rhode Island.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Rhode Island

OccupationMedian, Rhode Island · Growth 2024–34

1Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$45,010
No formal educational credential
$38,960 – $58,330+38.9%
2Nurse Practitioners$135,970
Master's degree
$111,420 – $176,410+34.0%
3Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,970 – $82,980+29.6%
4Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$50,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,560 – $81,000+27.4%
5Data Scientists$102,440
Bachelor's degree
$75,310 – $158,820+24.7%
6Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$65,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,890 – $97,680+21.5%
7Psychiatric Technicians$48,520
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,450 – $62,490+20.5%
8Medical and Health Services Managers$119,260
Bachelor's degree
$77,630 – $196,810+20.0%
9First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$72,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,620 – $100,650+19.9%
10Information Security Analysts$109,420
Bachelor's degree
$74,880 – $170,180+18.6%
11Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$45,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $77,230+18.2%
12Physical Therapist Assistants$68,640
Associate's degree
$58,380 – $76,990+18.1%
13Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$76,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,680 – $110,360+17.9%
14Logisticians$76,180
Bachelor's degree
$47,010 – $129,630+17.7%
15Construction Managers$103,990
Bachelor's degree
$61,300 – $177,360+17.3%
16Construction Laborers$57,240
No formal educational credential
$39,480 – $88,620+17.2%
17Physician Assistants$139,930
Master's degree
$98,760 – $200,030+17.1%
18Electricians$74,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,990 – $102,840+16.6%
19Therapists, All Other$86,400
Bachelor's degree
$70,690 – $122,240+16.5%
20Cooks, Restaurant$36,510
No formal educational credential
$31,840 – $49,450+15.9%
21Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$65,120
Master's degree
$43,960 – $98,440+15.2%
22Carpenters$60,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,840 – $89,670+15.0%
23Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,260 – $65,800+15.0%
24Bus Drivers, School$58,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,780 – $67,180+14.9%
25Stockers and Order Fillers$36,470
No formal educational credential
$31,280 – $47,940+14.9%
26Couriers and Messengers$36,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $47,290+14.4%
27Home Health and Personal Care Aides$43,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,860 – $46,700+14.3%
28First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$98,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,240 – $131,890+13.5%
29Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$63,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,460 – $98,870+13.4%
30Speech-Language Pathologists$104,000
Master's degree
$75,270 – $130,830+13.0%
31Software Developers$130,590
Bachelor's degree
$83,540 – $168,630+12.9%
32Business Operations Specialists, All Other$88,130
Bachelor's degree
$51,850 – $140,610+12.8%
33Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$67,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,100 – $104,080+12.8%
34Painters, Construction and Maintenance$41,590
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $64,410+12.3%
35Driver/Sales Workers$34,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $65,280+11.3%
36Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$41,690
No formal educational credential
$31,700 – $58,690+11.3%
37Psychologists, All Other$130,960
Master's degree
$32,250 – $170,250+11.2%
38Computer Occupations, All Other$102,210
Bachelor's degree
$50,700 – $158,670+10.9%
39Occupational Therapists$100,040
Master's degree
$75,760 – $126,630+10.9%
40Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$60,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,600 – $75,120+10.9%
41First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$60,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,440 – $80,030+10.8%
42Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$36,300
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $47,140+10.4%
43First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$81,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,080 – $133,180+10.3%
44Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$37,540
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $49,630+10.3%
45Personal Financial Advisors$80,200
Bachelor's degree
$46,670 – $164,230+10.1%
46Food Service Managers$82,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,690 – $118,150+9.9%
47Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$60,990
Master's degree
$42,900 – $135,200+9.7%
48Managers, All Other$165,900
Bachelor's degree
$98,180 – $311,260+9.4%
49Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$45,310
Associate's degree
$37,570 – $63,590+9.0%
50Chefs and Head Cooks$79,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,680 – $127,080+9.0%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianRhode Island	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$45,010	$38,960 – $58,330	+38.9%
2	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$135,970	$111,420 – $176,410	+34.0%
3	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,770	$48,970 – $82,980	+29.6%
4	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,580	$35,560 – $81,000	+27.4%
5	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$102,440	$75,310 – $158,820	+24.7%
6	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,310	$41,890 – $97,680	+21.5%
7	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,520	$43,450 – $62,490	+20.5%
8	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$119,260	$77,630 – $196,810	+20.0%
9	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,750	$49,620 – $100,650	+19.9%
10	Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree	$109,420	$74,880 – $170,180	+18.6%
11	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,640	$31,200 – $77,230	+18.2%
12	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$68,640	$58,380 – $76,990	+18.1%
13	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,470	$49,680 – $110,360	+17.9%
14	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$76,180	$47,010 – $129,630	+17.7%
15	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$103,990	$61,300 – $177,360	+17.3%
16	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$57,240	$39,480 – $88,620	+17.2%
17	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$139,930	$98,760 – $200,030	+17.1%
18	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,090	$42,990 – $102,840	+16.6%
19	Therapists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$86,400	$70,690 – $122,240	+16.5%
20	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$36,510	$31,840 – $49,450	+15.9%
21	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$65,120	$43,960 – $98,440	+15.2%
22	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,840	$47,840 – $89,670	+15.0%
23	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,040	$41,260 – $65,800	+15.0%
24	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,700	$47,780 – $67,180	+14.9%
25	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$36,470	$31,280 – $47,940	+14.9%
26	Couriers and MessengersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,810	$31,200 – $47,290	+14.4%
27	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,680	$31,860 – $46,700	+14.3%
28	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,590	$58,240 – $131,890	+13.5%
29	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,610	$52,460 – $98,870	+13.4%
30	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$104,000	$75,270 – $130,830	+13.0%
31	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$130,590	$83,540 – $168,630	+12.9%
32	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$88,130	$51,850 – $140,610	+12.8%
33	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,370	$38,100 – $104,080	+12.8%
34	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$41,590	$31,200 – $64,410	+12.3%
35	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,230	$31,200 – $65,280	+11.3%
36	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$41,690	$31,700 – $58,690	+11.3%
37	Psychologists, All OtherMaster's degree	$130,960	$32,250 – $170,250	+11.2%
38	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$102,210	$50,700 – $158,670	+10.9%
39	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$100,040	$75,760 – $126,630	+10.9%
40	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,190	$45,600 – $75,120	+10.9%
41	First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,680	$36,440 – $80,030	+10.8%
42	Shuttle Drivers and ChauffeursNo formal educational credential	$36,300	$31,200 – $47,140	+10.4%
43	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,650	$48,080 – $133,180	+10.3%
44	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$37,540	$31,200 – $49,630	+10.3%
45	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$80,200	$46,670 – $164,230	+10.1%
46	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,850	$61,690 – $118,150	+9.9%
47	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$60,990	$42,900 – $135,200	+9.7%
48	Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$165,900	$98,180 – $311,260	+9.4%
49	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$45,310	$37,570 – $63,590	+9.0%
50	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,930	$56,680 – $127,080	+9.0%

More for Rhode Island

Metro areas in Rhode Island

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

Providence-Warwick

By field in Rhode Island

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Rhode Island to rank honestly.

Fastest growing jobs in Rhode Island, 2024–34

More for Rhode Island

Metro areas in Rhode Island

By field in Rhode Island

Without a degree

Fastest growing jobs in each state, 2024–34