Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Rhode Island

Each occupation's median wage in Rhode Island compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Rhode Island pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 · vs. national

1Teachers and Instructors, All Other$130,480
Bachelor's degree
$31,910 – $187,550+97.3%
2Family Medicine Physicians$467,160
Doctoral or professional degree
$213,600 – $467,160+91.3%
3Tutors$77,850
Some college, no degree
$52,590 – $93,230+79.6%
4Structural Iron and Steel Workers$98,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,500 – $98,330+56.6%
5Emergency Medicine Physicians$512,730
Doctoral or professional degree
$73,920 – $566,150+52.8%
6Funeral Attendants$53,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,770 – $53,870+50.2%
7Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric$450,370
Doctoral or professional degree
$122,660 – $459,080+50.1%
8General Internal Medicine Physicians$379,490
Doctoral or professional degree
$69,590 – $425,340+47.9%
9Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$92,760
Bachelor's degree
$46,460 – $99,150+44.1%
10Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$90,930
Bachelor's degree
$45,070 – $99,610+42.1%
11Special Education Teachers, Middle School$93,970
Bachelor's degree
$48,830 – $97,450+40.7%
12Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$104,000
Associate's degree
$64,160 – $126,150+40.0%
13Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$103,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$81,260 – $105,930+39.7%
14Interpreters and Translators$82,320
Bachelor's degree
$51,450 – $134,270+36.8%
15Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$85,470
Bachelor's degree
$38,050 – $99,320+36.4%
16Automotive Body and Related Repairers$72,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,820 – $93,600+32.1%
17Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$49,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,510 – $50,130+30.5%
18Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$84,300
Bachelor's degree
$60,420 – $98,170+29.5%
19First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$63,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,500 – $77,170+29.4%
20Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$92,610
Bachelor's degree
$51,670 – $100,370+28.6%
21Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$61,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,740 – $74,270+28.6%
22Insurance Sales Agents$79,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,100 – $169,090+28.3%
23Massage Therapists$74,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,480 – $126,150+28.2%
24Chefs and Head Cooks$79,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,680 – $127,080+27.9%
25Brickmasons and Blockmasons$79,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,900 – $111,180+27.6%
26Computer Systems Analysts$134,630
Bachelor's degree
$79,610 – $168,480+27.2%
27Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$76,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,720 – $77,720+27.1%
28Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$61,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,780 – $82,050+26.6%
29Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$98,600
Associate's degree
$57,460 – $128,280+26.1%
30Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$92,990
Bachelor's degree
$46,580 – $99,900+25.2%
31Medical Records Specialists$63,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,650 – $84,540+25.1%
32First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$60,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,440 – $80,030+24.9%
33Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$80,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,650 – $94,540+24.4%
34Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$46,570
No formal educational credential
$37,890 – $58,380+24.4%
35Fundraising Managers$155,970
Bachelor's degree
$99,160 – $249,990+24.3%
36Graphic Designers$78,220
Bachelor's degree
$49,330 – $107,580+24.2%
37Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$97,580
Master's degree
$62,820 – $158,850+24.1%
38First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$98,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,240 – $131,890+23.4%
39Tire Repairers and Changers$46,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,110 – $59,380+22.6%
40Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$100,730
Bachelor's degree
$66,420 – $139,050+22.5%
41Bus Drivers, School$58,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,780 – $67,180+22.5%
42Home Health and Personal Care Aides$43,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,860 – $46,700+22.0%
43Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$59,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,250 – $78,000+21.7%
44Construction Laborers$57,240
No formal educational credential
$39,480 – $88,620+21.5%
45Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$102,300
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,950 – $166,050+20.9%
46Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$94,570
Associate's degree
$65,470 – $130,480+20.7%
47First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$58,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,950 – $84,020+20.7%
48Commercial and Industrial Designers$101,140
Bachelor's degree
$57,810 – $137,580+20.5%
49Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$75,780
Bachelor's degree
$41,850 – $102,650+20.4%
50Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders$45,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,460 – $59,420+20.3%

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	vs. national
1	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$130,480	$31,910 – $187,550	+97.3%
2	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$467,160	$213,600 – $467,160	+91.3%
3	TutorsSome college, no degree	$77,850	$52,590 – $93,230	+79.6%
4	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,320	$65,500 – $98,330	+56.6%
5	Emergency Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$512,730	$73,920 – $566,150	+52.8%
6	Funeral AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,580	$32,770 – $53,870	+50.2%
7	Ophthalmologists, Except PediatricDoctoral or professional degree	$450,370	$122,660 – $459,080	+50.1%
8	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$379,490	$69,590 – $425,340	+47.9%
9	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$92,760	$46,460 – $99,150	+44.1%
10	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$90,930	$45,070 – $99,610	+42.1%
11	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$93,970	$48,830 – $97,450	+40.7%
12	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$104,000	$64,160 – $126,150	+40.0%
13	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,810	$81,260 – $105,930	+39.7%
14	Interpreters and TranslatorsBachelor's degree	$82,320	$51,450 – $134,270	+36.8%
15	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$85,470	$38,050 – $99,320	+36.4%
16	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,490	$46,820 – $93,600	+32.1%
17	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,770	$35,510 – $50,130	+30.5%
18	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$84,300	$60,420 – $98,170	+29.5%
19	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,520	$43,500 – $77,170	+29.4%
20	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$92,610	$51,670 – $100,370	+28.6%
21	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,350	$47,740 – $74,270	+28.6%
22	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,930	$48,100 – $169,090	+28.3%
23	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,960	$43,480 – $126,150	+28.2%
24	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,930	$56,680 – $127,080	+27.9%
25	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,280	$51,900 – $111,180	+27.6%
26	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$134,630	$79,610 – $168,480	+27.2%
27	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,320	$44,720 – $77,720	+27.1%
28	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,670	$48,780 – $82,050	+26.6%
29	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$98,600	$57,460 – $128,280	+26.1%
30	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$92,990	$46,580 – $99,900	+25.2%
31	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,960	$44,650 – $84,540	+25.1%
32	First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,680	$36,440 – $80,030	+24.9%
33	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,090	$65,650 – $94,540	+24.4%
34	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$46,570	$37,890 – $58,380	+24.4%
35	Fundraising ManagersBachelor's degree	$155,970	$99,160 – $249,990	+24.3%
36	Graphic DesignersBachelor's degree	$78,220	$49,330 – $107,580	+24.2%
37	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$97,580	$62,820 – $158,850	+24.1%
38	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,590	$58,240 – $131,890	+23.4%
39	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,240	$38,110 – $59,380	+22.6%
40	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$100,730	$66,420 – $139,050	+22.5%
41	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,700	$47,780 – $67,180	+22.5%
42	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,680	$31,860 – $46,700	+22.0%
43	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,890	$36,250 – $78,000	+21.7%
44	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$57,240	$39,480 – $88,620	+21.5%
45	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$102,300	$60,950 – $166,050	+20.9%
46	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$94,570	$65,470 – $130,480	+20.7%
47	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,570	$36,950 – $84,020	+20.7%
48	Commercial and Industrial DesignersBachelor's degree	$101,140	$57,810 – $137,580	+20.5%
49	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$75,780	$41,850 – $102,650	+20.4%
50	Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,930	$38,460 – $59,420	+20.3%

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 pay the biggest premium in Rhode Island

More for Rhode Island

Metro areas in Rhode Island

By field in Rhode Island

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state