Average and median wage in Rhode Island
Half of the 501,340 workers in Rhode Island earn less than $56,780 a year, the median wage, while the average pay is $71,900, or $34.57 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% make $32,470 or less and the top 10% $128,120 or more. The average is 3% more than the U.S. average ($69,770) and the median 11% more than the U.S. median ($50,980).
- $32K10th
- $40K25th
- $57KMedian
- $85K75th
- $128K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Rhode Island per year | Per hour* | U.S. per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $71,900 | $34.57 | $69,770 |
| Median | $56,780 | $27.30 | $50,980 |
| 10th percentile | $32,470 | $15.61 | $31,200 |
| 25th percentile | $39,780 | $19.12 | $37,590 |
| 75th percentile | $85,200 | $40.96 | $80,520 |
| 90th percentile | $128,120 | $61.60 | $128,560 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Statewide figures include every employer in the state, metro and rural. Median vs. average salary · reading percentiles.
Average salary by city in Rhode Island
- Providence$69,290
Map of Rhode Island metro areas
Loading map…
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Salary, take-home pay and cost of living by city
| City | Average | Median | Take-home* | Cost of living | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $69,290 | $53,680 | $55,594 | 102 | $524,867 |
*Average salary after federal and state income tax and payroll taxes for a single filer. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Highest-paying jobs in Rhode Island
- Cardiologists · Providence$420,290
- Emergency Medicine Physicians · Providence$405,870
- Radiologists · Providence$370,800
- Family Medicine Physicians · Providence$352,130
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons · Providence$339,780
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric · Providence$331,560
- Chief Executives · Providence$330,190
- Surgeons, All Other · Providence$325,600
- Physicians, Pathologists · Providence$312,220
- General Internal Medicine Physicians · Providence$297,010
Most common jobs in Rhode Island
| Job | Jobs statewide | Average | Median | Highest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 13,310 | $34,040 | $31,490 | $34,070 |
| Retail Salespersons | 12,830 | $37,570 | $34,860 | $37,760 |
| Nursing Assistants | 10,220 | $46,360 | $46,440 | $46,020 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 10,160 | $42,740 | $35,420 | $42,400 |
| Registered Nurses | 10,090 | $101,260 | $100,640 | $102,040 |
| Cashiers | 9,260 | $36,640 | $34,860 | $35,990 |
| General and Operations Managers | 9,150 | $143,370 | $117,380 | $136,300 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 7,890 | $49,730 | $47,550 | $48,900 |
| Office Clerks, General | 7,700 | $49,950 | $47,830 | $49,480 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 7,490 | $42,330 | $43,680 | $42,200 |
Jobs, average and median: BLS statewide estimates. Highest city average: best-paid metro area we cover in the state.
Average salary by job family in Rhode Island
Rhode Island income tax and take-home pay
Take-home figures on these pages apply Rhode Island's 2026 income tax rules for a single filer with the standard deduction, plus federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security and Medicare. Rhode Island's Temporary Disability Insurance payroll contribution is not included.
Rhode Island at a glance
Average salary in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Salary in Rhode Island: questions
What is the average salary in Rhode Island?
$71,900 a year across all jobs, according to BLS statewide estimates (OEWS, May 2025). That is 3% more than the U.S. average ($69,770).
What is the median salary in Rhode Island?
$56,780 a year: half of Rhode Island workers earn more and half earn less. The median is lower than the average because a minority of high earners lifts the average.
What is the average hourly wage in Rhode Island?
$34.57 an hour on average, and $27.30 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
Which city in Rhode Island pays the most?
Providence, with an average of $69,290 a year among the metro areas we cover.
Is Rhode Island expensive to live in?
BEA puts Rhode Island prices 2% above the U.S. average (price parity 102.3). Within the state, Providence 102 are the most expensive metros.
Sources and how to read this page
- Statewide figures: BLS OEWS state estimates, May 2025, all occupations and every employer in the state (metro and rural areas).
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. City figures: the metro areas we cover in Rhode Island.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Population and median household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2023.
- Crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent and property crimes reported by agencies statewide, latest 12 months available.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.