Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Rhode Island

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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

1Photographers$37,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,600 – $76,810-49.6%-36.6% nominal
2Rehabilitation Counselors$47,020
Master's degree
$46,670 – $85,800-40.2%-24.7% nominal
3Operations Research Analysts$77,910
Bachelor's degree
$61,110 – $183,030-39.7%-24.0% nominal
4Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$38,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,680 – $57,780-37.5%-21.2% nominal
5Social and Community Service Managers$77,570
Bachelor's degree
$56,190 – $129,230-34.0%-16.9% nominal
6Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$60,390
Doctoral or professional degree
$47,030 – $160,500-33.0%-15.7% nominal
7General and Operations Managers$117,380
Bachelor's degree
$64,990 – $243,520-32.9%-15.5% nominal
8Advertising Sales Agents$48,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,470 – $104,550-32.8%-15.3% nominal
9Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$80,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,900 – $125,000-31.9%-14.3% nominal
10Personal Financial Advisors$80,200
Bachelor's degree
$46,670 – $164,230-30.4%-12.3% nominal
11Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$103,780
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,370 – $213,590-29.5%-11.2% nominal
12Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$100,790
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,770 – $161,420-29.4%-11.1% nominal
13Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary$101,320
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,640 – $156,820-29.0%-10.6% nominal
14First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$85,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,530 – $158,090-28.4%-9.8% nominal
15Painters, Construction and Maintenance$41,590
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $64,410-26.8%-7.8% nominal
16Construction Managers$103,990
Bachelor's degree
$61,300 – $177,360-24.7%-5.1% nominal
17Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary$82,510
Doctoral or professional degree
$49,660 – $132,570-24.6%-5.1% nominal
18Health Education Specialists$75,360
Bachelor's degree
$38,660 – $110,780-23.8%-4.0% nominal
19Interior Designers$58,100
Bachelor's degree
$50,270 – $99,990-23.7%-3.9% nominal
20Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents$69,870
Bachelor's degree
$54,330 – $113,760-23.5%-3.6% nominal
21Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service$38,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,090 – $49,750-23.1%-3.2% nominal
22Business Teachers, Postsecondary$103,820
Doctoral or professional degree
$66,110 – $203,360-23.0%-3.1% nominal
23Sales Managers$154,970
Bachelor's degree
$90,910 – $258,950-22.3%-2.1% nominal
24Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$76,790
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,360 – $163,510-21.8%-1.5% nominal
25Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$63,510
Bachelor's degree
$47,600 – $98,720-21.5%-1.2% nominal
26Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$59,490
No formal educational credential
$45,530 – $75,280-21.4%-1.1% nominal
27Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks$45,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,660 – $77,840-21.1%-0.7% nominal
28Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$95,600
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,810 – $183,740-21.0%-0.5% nominal
29Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$45,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,970 – $55,700-20.4%+0.2% nominal
30English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$79,190
Doctoral or professional degree
$64,700 – $129,890-20.3%+0.4% nominal
31Computer User Support Specialists$62,510
Some college, no degree
$47,340 – $94,040-20.2%+0.5% nominal
32Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$59,420
Associate's degree
$47,790 – $83,660-20.0%+0.8% nominal
33Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$78,340
Doctoral or professional degree
$50,890 – $106,220-19.8%+1.0% nominal
34Medical and Health Services Managers$119,260
Bachelor's degree
$77,630 – $196,810-19.0%+2.0% nominal
35Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$50,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,560 – $81,000-18.8%+2.2% nominal
36Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$63,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,460 – $98,870-18.6%+2.5% nominal
37Education Administrators, Postsecondary$106,520
Master's degree
$75,370 – $216,270-18.5%+2.6% nominal
38Printing Press Operators$45,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,360 – $71,780-18.4%+2.7% nominal
39Computer Network Architects$131,320
Bachelor's degree
$58,760 – $175,800-18.4%+2.7% nominal
40Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$103,370
Doctoral or professional degree
$66,370 – $218,940-18.4%+2.7% nominal
41Social Science Research Assistants$51,420
Bachelor's degree
$41,990 – $99,720-18.3%+2.9% nominal
42Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$92,820
Associate's degree
$83,690 – $129,690-18.1%+3.2% nominal
43Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$59,910
Bachelor's degree
$36,400 – $96,140-18.1%+3.2% nominal
44Pharmacists$128,180
Doctoral or professional degree
$86,650 – $161,090-18.0%+3.2% nominal
45First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$78,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,250 – $122,950-17.7%+3.6% nominal
46Computer and Information Research Scientists$121,470
Master's degree
$91,230 – $170,680-16.8%+4.8% nominal
47Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$85,470
Bachelor's degree
$38,050 – $99,320-16.3%+5.5% nominal
48Surveyors$62,670
Bachelor's degree
$44,130 – $99,270-16.2%+5.5% nominal
49Physical Therapist Assistants$68,640
Associate's degree
$58,380 – $76,990-16.1%+5.6% nominal
50Training and Development Specialists$75,910
Bachelor's degree
$46,420 – $151,560-15.9%+6.0% 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	PhotographersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,300	$34,600 – $76,810	-49.6%-36.6% nominal
2	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$47,020	$46,670 – $85,800	-40.2%-24.7% nominal
3	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$77,910	$61,110 – $183,030	-39.7%-24.0% nominal
4	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,720	$31,680 – $57,780	-37.5%-21.2% nominal
5	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$77,570	$56,190 – $129,230	-34.0%-16.9% nominal
6	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$60,390	$47,030 – $160,500	-33.0%-15.7% nominal
7	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$117,380	$64,990 – $243,520	-32.9%-15.5% nominal
8	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,040	$39,470 – $104,550	-32.8%-15.3% nominal
9	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,260	$58,900 – $125,000	-31.9%-14.3% nominal
10	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$80,200	$46,670 – $164,230	-30.4%-12.3% nominal
11	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$103,780	$61,370 – $213,590	-29.5%-11.2% nominal
12	Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$100,790	$60,770 – $161,420	-29.4%-11.1% nominal
13	Political Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$101,320	$62,640 – $156,820	-29.0%-10.6% nominal
14	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,420	$60,530 – $158,090	-28.4%-9.8% nominal
15	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$41,590	$31,200 – $64,410	-26.8%-7.8% nominal
16	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$103,990	$61,300 – $177,360	-24.7%-5.1% nominal
17	Philosophy and Religion Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$82,510	$49,660 – $132,570	-24.6%-5.1% nominal
18	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$75,360	$38,660 – $110,780	-23.8%-4.0% nominal
19	Interior DesignersBachelor's degree	$58,100	$50,270 – $99,990	-23.7%-3.9% nominal
20	Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue AgentsBachelor's degree	$69,870	$54,330 – $113,760	-23.5%-3.6% nominal
21	Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,330	$36,090 – $49,750	-23.1%-3.2% nominal
22	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$103,820	$66,110 – $203,360	-23.0%-3.1% nominal
23	Sales ManagersBachelor's degree	$154,970	$90,910 – $258,950	-22.3%-2.1% nominal
24	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,790	$39,360 – $163,510	-21.8%-1.5% nominal
25	Community and Social Service Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$63,510	$47,600 – $98,720	-21.5%-1.2% nominal
26	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$45,530 – $75,280	-21.4%-1.1% nominal
27	Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,420	$35,660 – $77,840	-21.1%-0.7% nominal
28	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$95,600	$62,810 – $183,740	-21.0%-0.5% nominal
29	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,950	$31,970 – $55,700	-20.4%+0.2% nominal
30	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$79,190	$64,700 – $129,890	-20.3%+0.4% nominal
31	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$62,510	$47,340 – $94,040	-20.2%+0.5% nominal
32	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$59,420	$47,790 – $83,660	-20.0%+0.8% nominal
33	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$78,340	$50,890 – $106,220	-19.8%+1.0% nominal
34	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$119,260	$77,630 – $196,810	-19.0%+2.0% nominal
35	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,580	$35,560 – $81,000	-18.8%+2.2% nominal
36	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,610	$52,460 – $98,870	-18.6%+2.5% nominal
37	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$106,520	$75,370 – $216,270	-18.5%+2.6% nominal
38	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,380	$40,360 – $71,780	-18.4%+2.7% nominal
39	Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree	$131,320	$58,760 – $175,800	-18.4%+2.7% nominal
40	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$103,370	$66,370 – $218,940	-18.4%+2.7% nominal
41	Social Science Research AssistantsBachelor's degree	$51,420	$41,990 – $99,720	-18.3%+2.9% nominal
42	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$92,820	$83,690 – $129,690	-18.1%+3.2% nominal
43	Meeting, Convention, and Event PlannersBachelor's degree	$59,910	$36,400 – $96,140	-18.1%+3.2% nominal
44	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$128,180	$86,650 – $161,090	-18.0%+3.2% nominal
45	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,840	$56,250 – $122,950	-17.7%+3.6% nominal
46	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$121,470	$91,230 – $170,680	-16.8%+4.8% nominal
47	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$85,470	$38,050 – $99,320	-16.3%+5.5% nominal
48	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$62,670	$44,130 – $99,270	-16.2%+5.5% nominal
49	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$68,640	$58,380 – $76,990	-16.1%+5.6% nominal
50	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$75,910	$46,420 – $151,560	-15.9%+6.0% 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 lost the most to inflation in Rhode Island

More for Rhode Island

Metro areas in Rhode Island

By field in Rhode Island

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state