Jobs that actually got a raise in Rhode Island

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

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 · Real change since 2019

1Massage Therapists$74,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,480 – $126,150+104.2%+157.2% nominal
2General Internal Medicine Physicians$379,490
Doctoral or professional degree
$69,590 – $425,340+72.7%+117.4% nominal
3Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$49,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,510 – $50,130+48.1%+86.5% nominal
4Interpreters and Translators$82,320
Bachelor's degree
$51,450 – $134,270+47.0%+85.1% nominal
5Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$117,670
Bachelor's degree
$48,480 – $232,800+44.4%+81.8% nominal
6Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$69,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,200 – $100,240+37.3%+72.9% nominal
7Helpers--Production Workers$44,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,300 – $56,370+35.4%+70.6% nominal
8Transportation Security Screeners$71,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,680 – $78,440+33.1%+67.6% nominal
9Audio and Video Technicians$64,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,470 – $83,900+32.7%+67.1% nominal
10Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$45,590
Bachelor's degree
$36,410 – $60,640+31.7%+65.8% nominal
11Technical Writers$102,360
Bachelor's degree
$77,480 – $115,380+26.8%+59.7% nominal
12Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,850 – $62,280+26.2%+59.0% nominal
13Automotive Body and Related Repairers$72,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,820 – $93,600+25.9%+58.6% nominal
14Travel Agents$59,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,370 – $79,990+25.2%+57.7% nominal
15Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$38,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,080 – $50,220+24.1%+56.3% nominal
16Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers$48,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,190 – $77,650+23.1%+55.0% nominal
17Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,590 – $51,890+23.1%+55.0% nominal
18Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$76,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,720 – $77,720+22.8%+54.7% nominal
19Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$76,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,680 – $110,360+21.0%+52.3% nominal
20Home Health and Personal Care Aides$43,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,860 – $46,700+20.5%+51.8% nominal
21Computer Network Support Specialists$82,970
Associate's degree
$59,810 – $129,450+20.0%+51.1% nominal
22Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$55,970
No formal educational credential
$34,810 – $61,370+19.4%+50.4% nominal
23Childcare Workers$36,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,410 – $45,140+17.4%+47.9% nominal
24Packers and Packagers, Hand$36,730
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $48,310+16.8%+47.1% nominal
25Nursing Assistants$46,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,220 – $54,950+16.0%+46.0% nominal
26Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$37,340
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $51,990+15.5%+45.4% nominal
27Sewing Machine Operators$38,670
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $51,180+15.3%+45.2% nominal
28Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$61,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,740 – $74,270+15.1%+44.9% nominal
29Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$103,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$81,260 – $105,930+15.0%+44.8% nominal
30Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$40,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $60,510+14.3%+43.9% nominal
31Tour and Travel Guides$38,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,270 – $96,450+14.0%+43.5% nominal
32Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$35,770
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $41,490+13.9%+43.5% nominal
33Food Batchmakers$39,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $46,520+13.8%+43.2% nominal
34Counter and Rental Clerks$46,360
No formal educational credential
$35,270 – $64,900+13.1%+42.4% nominal
35Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$34,040
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $42,780+13.0%+42.3% nominal
36Cooks, Fast Food$35,230
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $38,470+12.9%+42.2% nominal
37Parking Attendants$34,390
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $44,610+12.8%+42.0% nominal
38Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$37,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $46,430+12.7%+41.9% nominal
39Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$34,860
No formal educational credential
$31,320 – $42,990+12.5%+41.6% nominal
40Cashiers$34,860
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $47,420+12.2%+41.3% nominal
41Coaches and Scouts$53,630
Bachelor's degree
$34,580 – $101,000+11.9%+40.9% nominal
42Producers and Directors$84,250
Bachelor's degree
$43,090 – $136,360+11.7%+40.6% nominal
43Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$42,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $60,760+11.7%+40.7% nominal
44First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$63,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,500 – $77,170+11.3%+40.1% nominal
45Residential Advisors$45,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,460 – $67,940+11.1%+39.9% nominal
46Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$98,600
Associate's degree
$57,460 – $128,280+11.1%+39.9% nominal
47Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$105,160
Bachelor's degree
$65,270 – $135,170+10.5%+39.2% nominal
48Psychiatrists$287,610
Doctoral or professional degree
$145,780 – $480,690+10.4%+39.1% nominal
49Computer Systems Analysts$134,630
Bachelor's degree
$79,610 – $168,480+10.3%+38.9% nominal
50Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$37,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,360 – $44,450+8.9%+37.1% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,960	$43,480 – $126,150	+104.2%+157.2% nominal
2	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$379,490	$69,590 – $425,340	+72.7%+117.4% nominal
3	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,770	$35,510 – $50,130	+48.1%+86.5% nominal
4	Interpreters and TranslatorsBachelor's degree	$82,320	$51,450 – $134,270	+47.0%+85.1% nominal
5	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$117,670	$48,480 – $232,800	+44.4%+81.8% nominal
6	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,630	$37,200 – $100,240	+37.3%+72.9% nominal
7	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,720	$31,300 – $56,370	+35.4%+70.6% nominal
8	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,510	$45,680 – $78,440	+33.1%+67.6% nominal
9	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,070	$41,470 – $83,900	+32.7%+67.1% nominal
10	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$45,590	$36,410 – $60,640	+31.7%+65.8% nominal
11	Technical WritersBachelor's degree	$102,360	$77,480 – $115,380	+26.8%+59.7% nominal
12	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,170	$37,850 – $62,280	+26.2%+59.0% nominal
13	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,490	$46,820 – $93,600	+25.9%+58.6% nominal
14	Travel AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,790	$40,370 – $79,990	+25.2%+57.7% nominal
15	Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,760	$32,080 – $50,220	+24.1%+56.3% nominal
16	Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,800	$39,190 – $77,650	+23.1%+55.0% nominal
17	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,710	$35,590 – $51,890	+23.1%+55.0% nominal
18	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,320	$44,720 – $77,720	+22.8%+54.7% nominal
19	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,470	$49,680 – $110,360	+21.0%+52.3% nominal
20	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,680	$31,860 – $46,700	+20.5%+51.8% nominal
21	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$82,970	$59,810 – $129,450	+20.0%+51.1% nominal
22	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$55,970	$34,810 – $61,370	+19.4%+50.4% nominal
23	Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,940	$31,410 – $45,140	+17.4%+47.9% nominal
24	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$36,730	$31,200 – $48,310	+16.8%+47.1% nominal
25	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,440	$39,220 – $54,950	+16.0%+46.0% nominal
26	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$37,340	$31,200 – $51,990	+15.5%+45.4% nominal
27	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$38,670	$31,200 – $51,180	+15.3%+45.2% nominal
28	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,350	$47,740 – $74,270	+15.1%+44.9% nominal
29	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,810	$81,260 – $105,930	+15.0%+44.8% nominal
30	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,590	$31,200 – $60,510	+14.3%+43.9% nominal
31	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,310	$32,270 – $96,450	+14.0%+43.5% nominal
32	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$35,770	$31,200 – $41,490	+13.9%+43.5% nominal
33	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,250	$31,200 – $46,520	+13.8%+43.2% nominal
34	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$46,360	$35,270 – $64,900	+13.1%+42.4% nominal
35	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket TakersNo formal educational credential	$34,040	$31,200 – $42,780	+13.0%+42.3% nominal
36	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$35,230	$31,200 – $38,470	+12.9%+42.2% nominal
37	Parking AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$34,390	$31,200 – $44,610	+12.8%+42.0% nominal
38	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,840	$31,200 – $46,430	+12.7%+41.9% nominal
39	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$34,860	$31,320 – $42,990	+12.5%+41.6% nominal
40	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$34,860	$31,200 – $47,420	+12.2%+41.3% nominal
41	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$53,630	$34,580 – $101,000	+11.9%+40.9% nominal
42	Producers and DirectorsBachelor's degree	$84,250	$43,090 – $136,360	+11.7%+40.6% nominal
43	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,020	$31,200 – $60,760	+11.7%+40.7% nominal
44	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,520	$43,500 – $77,170	+11.3%+40.1% nominal
45	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,280	$33,460 – $67,940	+11.1%+39.9% nominal
46	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$98,600	$57,460 – $128,280	+11.1%+39.9% nominal
47	Architects, Except Landscape and NavalBachelor's degree	$105,160	$65,270 – $135,170	+10.5%+39.2% nominal
48	PsychiatristsDoctoral or professional degree	$287,610	$145,780 – $480,690	+10.4%+39.1% nominal
49	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$134,630	$79,610 – $168,480	+10.3%+38.9% nominal
50	Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,400	$35,360 – $44,450	+8.9%+37.1% nominal

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.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Rhode Island

More for Rhode Island

Metro areas in Rhode Island

By field in Rhode Island

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state