High paying jobs in Rhode Island that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Rhode Island, requires no bachelor's degree, and requires no prior experience in a related job. That second filter is what separates this from the no-degree list, which is topped by supervisor roles asking five years in the trade before they will look at you. Several of these do involve months of training — but the employer provides it, and pays you during it, which is a feature rather than a barrier. 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

1Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$104,000
Associate's degree
$64,160 – $126,150260
2Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$103,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$81,260 – $105,930490
3Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$98,600
Associate's degree
$57,460 – $128,280290
4Structural Iron and Steel Workers$98,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,500 – $98,330360
5Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$94,570
Associate's degree
$65,470 – $130,480380
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$92,820
Associate's degree
$83,690 – $129,690380
7Dental Hygienists$86,910
Associate's degree
$83,800 – $100,520770
8Respiratory Therapists$86,900
Associate's degree
$73,240 – $122,120260
9Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$86,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,290 – $130,4801,150
10Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$85,330
Associate's degree
$65,840 – $109,640660
11Computer Network Support Specialists$82,970
Associate's degree
$59,810 – $129,450620
12Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$82,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,550 – $190,1404,870
13Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$80,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,650 – $94,5401,290
14Insurance Sales Agents$79,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,100 – $169,0901,700
15Brickmasons and Blockmasons$79,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,900 – $111,180220
16Tutors$77,850
Some college, no degree
$52,590 – $93,230300
17Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$77,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,020 – $91,7601,940
18Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$76,860
Postsecondary nondegree award
$70,270 – $81,970200
19Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$76,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,680 – $110,3601,820
20Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$76,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,720 – $77,720240
21Massage Therapists$74,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,480 – $126,150290
22Surgical Technologists$74,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,910 – $101,850240
23Electricians$74,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,990 – $102,8402,420
24Automotive Body and Related Repairers$72,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,820 – $93,600800
25Architectural and Civil Drafters$71,700
Associate's degree
$52,000 – $105,650240
26Transportation Security Screeners$71,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,680 – $78,440160
27Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$69,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,200 – $100,240430
28Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$69,630
Associate's degree
$49,660 – $110,030210
29Physical Therapist Assistants$68,640
Associate's degree
$58,380 – $76,990420
30Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$68,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,920 – $96,170260
31Firefighters$67,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,110 – $76,6201,620
32Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$67,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,100 – $104,0801,450
33Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$67,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,020 – $85,420350
34Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$66,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$57,300 – $95,950150
35Occupational Therapy Assistants$66,710
Associate's degree
$58,220 – $75,560300
36Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$65,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,890 – $97,680960
37Sheet Metal Workers$65,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,670 – $81,980370
38Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,970 – $82,9801,070
39Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$64,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,660 – $78,050570
40Riggers$64,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,160 – $81,540160
41Audio and Video Technicians$64,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,470 – $83,900150
42Medical Records Specialists$63,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,650 – $84,540650
43Postal Service Mail Carriers$63,610
No formal educational credential
$43,120 – $81,0401,220
44Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$63,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,460 – $98,870970
45Tool and Die Makers$63,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,750 – $83,520260
46Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$63,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,300 – $117,080240
47Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$63,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,390 – $85,530160
48Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$63,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,580 – $93,560390
49Medical Equipment Repairers$63,010
Associate's degree
$44,370 – $83,760150
50Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$62,950
No formal educational credential
$49,220 – $94,110250

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	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$104,000	$64,160 – $126,150	260
2	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,810	$81,260 – $105,930	490
3	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$98,600	$57,460 – $128,280	290
4	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,320	$65,500 – $98,330	360
5	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$94,570	$65,470 – $130,480	380
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$92,820	$83,690 – $129,690	380
7	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$86,910	$83,800 – $100,520	770
8	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$86,900	$73,240 – $122,120	260
9	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,520	$60,290 – $130,480	1,150
10	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,330	$65,840 – $109,640	660
11	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$82,970	$59,810 – $129,450	620
12	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,420	$44,550 – $190,140	4,870
13	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,090	$65,650 – $94,540	1,290
14	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,930	$48,100 – $169,090	1,700
15	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,280	$51,900 – $111,180	220
16	TutorsSome college, no degree	$77,850	$52,590 – $93,230	300
17	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,230	$59,020 – $91,760	1,940
18	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,860	$70,270 – $81,970	200
19	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,470	$49,680 – $110,360	1,820
20	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,320	$44,720 – $77,720	240
21	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,960	$43,480 – $126,150	290
22	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,130	$49,910 – $101,850	240
23	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,090	$42,990 – $102,840	2,420
24	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,490	$46,820 – $93,600	800
25	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$71,700	$52,000 – $105,650	240
26	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,510	$45,680 – $78,440	160
27	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,630	$37,200 – $100,240	430
28	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$69,630	$49,660 – $110,030	210
29	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$68,640	$58,380 – $76,990	420
30	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,130	$51,920 – $96,170	260
31	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,380	$56,110 – $76,620	1,620
32	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,370	$38,100 – $104,080	1,450
33	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,270	$51,020 – $85,420	350
34	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,960	$57,300 – $95,950	150
35	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$66,710	$58,220 – $75,560	300
36	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,310	$41,890 – $97,680	960
37	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,100	$42,670 – $81,980	370
38	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,770	$48,970 – $82,980	1,070
39	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,560	$47,660 – $78,050	570
40	RiggersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,260	$50,160 – $81,540	160
41	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,070	$41,470 – $83,900	150
42	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,960	$44,650 – $84,540	650
43	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$63,610	$43,120 – $81,040	1,220
44	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,610	$52,460 – $98,870	970
45	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,430	$43,750 – $83,520	260
46	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,060	$41,300 – $117,080	240
47	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,060	$48,390 – $85,530	160
48	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,020	$42,580 – $93,560	390
49	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$63,010	$44,370 – $83,760	150
50	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$62,950	$49,220 – $94,110	250

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 experience

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 experience