Rhode Island Jobs and Wages
Wages, unemployment, minimum wage, benefits, visa filings and federal openings for Rhode Island from BLS, the Department of Labor and USAJOBS.
- Median wage
- $56,780 a year
- May 2025
- Unemployment rate
- 3.6%
- Sep 2026
- Minimum wage
- $16.00/hr
- State law
- Average weekly jobless benefit
- $508
- Sep 2026
Highest paying jobs in Rhode Island
Occupations with at least 100 jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emergency Medicine Physicians | 290 | $512,730 | $411,330 |
| 2 | Family Medicine Physicians | 210 | $467,160 | $365,960 |
| 3 | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | 180 | $450,370 | $336,620 |
| 4 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | 300 | $379,490 | $298,550 |
| 5 | Psychiatrists | 270 | $287,610 | $257,290 |
| 6 | Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | 120 | $239,760 | $213,840 |
| 7 | Chief Executives | 460 | $235,360 | $341,100 |
| 8 | Physicians, All Other | 1,180 | $228,590 | $236,360 |
Most common jobs in Rhode Island
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | 13,310 | $31,490 | $34,040 |
| 2 | Retail Salespersons | 12,830 | $34,860 | $37,570 |
| 3 | Nursing Assistants | 10,220 | $46,440 | $46,360 |
| 4 | Waiters and Waitresses | 10,160 | $35,420 | $42,740 |
| 5 | Registered Nurses | 10,090 | $100,640 | $101,260 |
| 6 | Cashiers | 9,260 | $34,860 | $36,640 |
| 7 | General and Operations Managers | 9,150 | $117,380 | $143,370 |
| 8 | Customer Service Representatives | 7,890 | $47,550 | $49,730 |
Wages by metro area
Visa filings for jobs in this state
Employer filings with the Department of Labor
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)1,054 certified, median offer $116,397
- PERM (FY 2026 through Q3)438 certified, median offer $111,800
Top H-1B employers in Rhode Island
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | Employer | Certified | Median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brown University | 100 | $82,400 |
| 2 | Fidelity Technology Group, LLC d/b/a Fidelity Investments | 87 | $136,223 |
| 3 | Lifespan Physician Group INC. | 55 | $250,200 |
| 4 | CVS Pharmacy Inc. | 41 | $148,045 |
| 5 | Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | 38 | $128,393 |
| 6 | Infosys Limited | 34 | $76,253 |
| 7 | Compunnel Software Group, INC | 31 | $126,000 |
| 8 | CVS Shared Services Resources LLC | 29 | $140,000 |
More Rhode Island labor data
- Unemployment by county3.6% statewide
- Jobs by industry513,100 jobs, -0.1% in a year
- Minimum wage$16.00 an hour
- Unemployment benefits$508 a week on average
- Union membership16.1% in 2025
- Federal job openings80 open now
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median wage in Rhode Island?
- The median wage for all occupations in Rhode Island is $56,780 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025).
- What is the unemployment rate in Rhode Island?
- Rhode Island's unemployment rate was 3.6% in Sep 2026 (seasonally adjusted).
- What is the highest paying job in Rhode Island?
- Emergency Medicine Physicians have the highest median wage among occupations with at least 100 jobs in Rhode Island: $512,730 a year.