High paying jobs in Rhode Island that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Rhode Island and typically require less than a bachelor's degree to enter — a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

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

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$117,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$71,760 – $207,580450
2Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$104,000
Associate's degree
$64,160 – $126,150260
3Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$103,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$81,260 – $105,930490
4Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$98,600
Associate's degree
$57,460 – $128,280290
5First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$98,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,240 – $131,8902,060
6Structural Iron and Steel Workers$98,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,500 – $98,330360
7First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$97,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,160 – $136,470820
8Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$94,570
Associate's degree
$65,470 – $130,480380
9Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$92,820
Associate's degree
$83,690 – $129,690380
10Detectives and Criminal Investigators$88,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$75,910 – $159,140360
11Dental Hygienists$86,910
Associate's degree
$83,800 – $100,520770
12Respiratory Therapists$86,900
Associate's degree
$73,240 – $122,120260
13Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$86,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,290 – $130,4801,150
14First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$85,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,530 – $158,090350
15Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$85,330
Associate's degree
$65,840 – $109,640660
16First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$85,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,890 – $97,740770
17Computer Network Support Specialists$82,970
Associate's degree
$59,810 – $129,450620
18Food Service Managers$82,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,690 – $118,150760
19Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$82,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,550 – $190,1404,870
20First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$81,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,080 – $133,1802,660
21Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$80,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,900 – $125,000730
22Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$80,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,650 – $94,5401,290
23Insurance Sales Agents$79,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,100 – $169,0901,700
24Chefs and Head Cooks$79,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,680 – $127,080740
25Brickmasons and Blockmasons$79,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,900 – $111,180220
26First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$78,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,250 – $122,9501,460
27Tutors$77,850
Some college, no degree
$52,590 – $93,230300
28Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$77,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,310 – $97,960950
29Construction and Building Inspectors$77,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,950 – $110,940270
30Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$77,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,020 – $91,7601,940
31Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$76,860
Postsecondary nondegree award
$70,270 – $81,970200
32Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$76,790
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,360 – $163,510250
33Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$76,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,680 – $110,3601,820
34Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$76,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,720 – $77,720240
35First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$76,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,850 – $102,7205,090
36Massage Therapists$74,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,480 – $126,150290
37Surgical Technologists$74,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,910 – $101,850240
38Electricians$74,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,990 – $102,8402,420
39First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$72,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,620 – $100,6501,520
40Automotive Body and Related Repairers$72,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,820 – $93,600800
41Architectural and Civil Drafters$71,700
Associate's degree
$52,000 – $105,650240
42Transportation Security Screeners$71,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,680 – $78,440160
43Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$69,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,200 – $100,240430
44Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$69,630
Associate's degree
$49,660 – $110,030210
45Physical Therapist Assistants$68,640
Associate's degree
$58,380 – $76,990420
46Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$68,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,920 – $96,170260
47Firefighters$67,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,110 – $76,6201,620
48Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$67,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,100 – $104,0801,450
49Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$67,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,020 – $85,420350
50Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$66,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$57,300 – $95,950150

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	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$117,600	$71,760 – $207,580	450
2	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$104,000	$64,160 – $126,150	260
3	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,810	$81,260 – $105,930	490
4	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$98,600	$57,460 – $128,280	290
5	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,590	$58,240 – $131,890	2,060
6	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,320	$65,500 – $98,330	360
7	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,690	$77,160 – $136,470	820
8	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$94,570	$65,470 – $130,480	380
9	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$92,820	$83,690 – $129,690	380
10	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,450	$75,910 – $159,140	360
11	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$86,910	$83,800 – $100,520	770
12	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$86,900	$73,240 – $122,120	260
13	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,520	$60,290 – $130,480	1,150
14	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,420	$60,530 – $158,090	350
15	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,330	$65,840 – $109,640	660
16	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$85,170	$65,890 – $97,740	770
17	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$82,970	$59,810 – $129,450	620
18	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,850	$61,690 – $118,150	760
19	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,420	$44,550 – $190,140	4,870
20	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,650	$48,080 – $133,180	2,660
21	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,260	$58,900 – $125,000	730
22	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,090	$65,650 – $94,540	1,290
23	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,930	$48,100 – $169,090	1,700
24	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,930	$56,680 – $127,080	740
25	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,280	$51,900 – $111,180	220
26	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,840	$56,250 – $122,950	1,460
27	TutorsSome college, no degree	$77,850	$52,590 – $93,230	300
28	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,820	$47,310 – $97,960	950
29	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,420	$57,950 – $110,940	270
30	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,230	$59,020 – $91,760	1,940
31	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,860	$70,270 – $81,970	200
32	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,790	$39,360 – $163,510	250
33	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,470	$49,680 – $110,360	1,820
34	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,320	$44,720 – $77,720	240
35	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,030	$50,850 – $102,720	5,090
36	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,960	$43,480 – $126,150	290
37	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,130	$49,910 – $101,850	240
38	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,090	$42,990 – $102,840	2,420
39	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,750	$49,620 – $100,650	1,520
40	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,490	$46,820 – $93,600	800
41	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$71,700	$52,000 – $105,650	240
42	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,510	$45,680 – $78,440	160
43	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,630	$37,200 – $100,240	430
44	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$69,630	$49,660 – $110,030	210
45	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$68,640	$58,380 – $76,990	420
46	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,130	$51,920 – $96,170	260
47	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,380	$56,110 – $76,620	1,620
48	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,370	$38,100 – $104,080	1,450
49	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,270	$51,020 – $85,420	350
50	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,960	$57,300 – $95,950	150

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 jobs in Rhode Island that need no degree

More for Rhode Island

Metro areas in Rhode Island

By field in Rhode Island

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree