High paying entry level jobs in Rhode Island

These occupations in Rhode Island ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

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 · Employed

1Dentists, General$161,560
Doctoral or professional degree
$103,490 – $240,650360
2Physician Assistants$139,930
Master's degree
$98,760 – $200,030810
3Lawyers$138,960
Doctoral or professional degree
$80,710 – $268,2701,840
4Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$136,360
Bachelor's degree
$92,580 – $195,190970
5Nurse Practitioners$135,970
Master's degree
$111,420 – $176,4101,180
6Computer Systems Analysts$134,630
Bachelor's degree
$79,610 – $168,4801,850
7Optometrists$134,520
Doctoral or professional degree
$71,670 – $215,640250
8Software Developers$130,590
Bachelor's degree
$83,540 – $168,6305,070
9Teachers and Instructors, All Other$130,480
Bachelor's degree
$31,910 – $187,550410
10Pharmacists$128,180
Doctoral or professional degree
$86,650 – $161,0901,510
11Veterinarians$126,570
Doctoral or professional degree
$106,730 – $196,300430
12Computer and Information Research Scientists$121,470
Master's degree
$91,230 – $170,680500
13Computer Hardware Engineers$119,510
Bachelor's degree
$80,620 – $158,570390
14Engineers, All Other$117,080
Bachelor's degree
$57,180 – $199,410380
15Mechanical Engineers$116,230
Bachelor's degree
$79,000 – $195,1901,560
16Industrial Engineers$109,350
Bachelor's degree
$79,370 – $159,400990
17Database Administrators$106,020
Bachelor's degree
$63,430 – $154,860280
18Web and Digital Interface Designers$105,990
Bachelor's degree
$65,640 – $166,320240
19Project Management Specialists$104,680
Bachelor's degree
$63,750 – $170,0503,880
20Financial Risk Specialists$104,470
Bachelor's degree
$59,290 – $186,580450
21Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$104,000
Associate's degree
$64,160 – $126,150260
22Business Teachers, Postsecondary$103,820
Doctoral or professional degree
$66,110 – $203,360360
23Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$103,370
Doctoral or professional degree
$66,370 – $218,940670
24Network and Computer Systems Administrators$103,100
Bachelor's degree
$71,200 – $154,7901,060
25Data Scientists$102,440
Bachelor's degree
$75,310 – $158,8201,160
26Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$102,300
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,950 – $166,050250
27Computer Occupations, All Other$102,210
Bachelor's degree
$50,700 – $158,670830
28Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$101,790
Bachelor's degree
$80,220 – $136,590400
29Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$101,740
Bachelor's degree
$66,800 – $149,350200
30Chemists$101,660
Bachelor's degree
$70,210 – $146,830150
31Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary$101,320
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,640 – $156,820170
32Environmental Engineers$101,140
Bachelor's degree
$83,980 – $135,800200
33Commercial and Industrial Designers$101,140
Bachelor's degree
$57,810 – $137,580190
34Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$100,790
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,770 – $161,420160
35Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$100,730
Bachelor's degree
$66,420 – $139,050330
36Registered Nurses$100,640
Bachelor's degree
$77,410 – $129,84010,090
37Financial and Investment Analysts$100,550
Bachelor's degree
$63,050 – $175,2701,790
38Occupational Therapists$100,040
Master's degree
$75,760 – $126,630770
39Physical Therapists$99,400
Doctoral or professional degree
$80,770 – $125,3901,020
40Civil Engineers$99,300
Bachelor's degree
$77,800 – $151,0201,270
41Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$98,600
Associate's degree
$57,460 – $128,280290
42Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$97,580
Master's degree
$62,820 – $158,850440
43Computer Programmers$96,470
Bachelor's degree
$69,780 – $144,480250
44Accountants and Auditors$95,820
Bachelor's degree
$59,920 – $150,3206,570
45Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$95,600
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,810 – $183,740260
46Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$94,570
Associate's degree
$65,470 – $130,480380
47Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary$94,360
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,340 – $138,110180
48Special Education Teachers, Middle School$93,970
Bachelor's degree
$48,830 – $97,450380
49Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$92,990
Bachelor's degree
$46,580 – $99,900830
50Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$92,820
Associate's degree
$83,690 – $129,690380

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	Employed
1	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$161,560	$103,490 – $240,650	360
2	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$139,930	$98,760 – $200,030	810
3	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$138,960	$80,710 – $268,270	1,840
4	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$136,360	$92,580 – $195,190	970
5	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$135,970	$111,420 – $176,410	1,180
6	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$134,630	$79,610 – $168,480	1,850
7	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$134,520	$71,670 – $215,640	250
8	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$130,590	$83,540 – $168,630	5,070
9	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$130,480	$31,910 – $187,550	410
10	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$128,180	$86,650 – $161,090	1,510
11	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$126,570	$106,730 – $196,300	430
12	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$121,470	$91,230 – $170,680	500
13	Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree	$119,510	$80,620 – $158,570	390
14	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$117,080	$57,180 – $199,410	380
15	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$116,230	$79,000 – $195,190	1,560
16	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$109,350	$79,370 – $159,400	990
17	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$106,020	$63,430 – $154,860	280
18	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$105,990	$65,640 – $166,320	240
19	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$104,680	$63,750 – $170,050	3,880
20	Financial Risk SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$104,470	$59,290 – $186,580	450
21	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$104,000	$64,160 – $126,150	260
22	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$103,820	$66,110 – $203,360	360
23	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$103,370	$66,370 – $218,940	670
24	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$103,100	$71,200 – $154,790	1,060
25	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$102,440	$75,310 – $158,820	1,160
26	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$102,300	$60,950 – $166,050	250
27	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$102,210	$50,700 – $158,670	830
28	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$101,790	$80,220 – $136,590	400
29	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$101,740	$66,800 – $149,350	200
30	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$101,660	$70,210 – $146,830	150
31	Political Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$101,320	$62,640 – $156,820	170
32	Environmental EngineersBachelor's degree	$101,140	$83,980 – $135,800	200
33	Commercial and Industrial DesignersBachelor's degree	$101,140	$57,810 – $137,580	190
34	Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$100,790	$60,770 – $161,420	160
35	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$100,730	$66,420 – $139,050	330
36	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$100,640	$77,410 – $129,840	10,090
37	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$100,550	$63,050 – $175,270	1,790
38	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$100,040	$75,760 – $126,630	770
39	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$99,400	$80,770 – $125,390	1,020
40	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$99,300	$77,800 – $151,020	1,270
41	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$98,600	$57,460 – $128,280	290
42	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$97,580	$62,820 – $158,850	440
43	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$96,470	$69,780 – $144,480	250
44	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$95,820	$59,920 – $150,320	6,570
45	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$95,600	$62,810 – $183,740	260
46	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$94,570	$65,470 – $130,480	380
47	Psychology Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$94,360	$62,340 – $138,110	180
48	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$93,970	$48,830 – $97,450	380
49	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$92,990	$46,580 – $99,900	830
50	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$92,820	$83,690 – $129,690	380

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Rhode Island. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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.

High paying entry level jobs in Rhode Island

More for Rhode Island

Metro areas in Rhode Island

By field in Rhode Island

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state