PROVIDENCE – The median hourly wage in Rhode Island in May 2018 was $20.21, according to the R.I. Department of Labor and Training Monday in its 2018 Occupational Wage Report.
The entry-level hourly wage in Rhode Island for all occupations was $13.35 in May 2018, while pay for an experienced worker for all occupations was $32.65 per hour.
Rhode Island's Market Has Changed. Developers, Builders, Investors and Sellers Must Change With It.
By Emilio DiSpirito IV License Partner | Engel & Völkers Oceanside Leader | The DiSpirito…
Learn More
Rhode Island’s median wage for all occupations was 8.1% higher than the national median pay of $18.58 per hour.
The report said the highest-paying occupational group in Rhode Island was management positions, paying a median of $58.96 per hour, which was 15% higher than the U.S. median hourly wage for management positions. Management accounted for 4.3% of the Ocean State workforce. The second-highest paying occupational group in the state was architecture and engineering with a median pay of $41.56 per hour.
The occupational group with the highest employment in the state was office and administrative support positions, employing 15% of the workforce. The position paid a median wage of $18.89 per hour.
The second-largest occupational group in the state, employees in the food preparation field, comprises 10.3% of the workforce with a median hourly pay of $11.98.
According to the report, three major occupational groups in Rhode Island had a lower median pay than the U.S. median:
- The median pay for the legal occupations group in Rhode Island was 6.4% less than the U.S. median at $36.50 per hour.
- Transportation and material-moving occupations median pay was 3% less than the U.S median at $15.28 per hour.
- The median pay for computer and mathematical occupations in Rhode Island was 1.6% less than the national median wage for the sector at $40.85 per hour.
In addition to providing wage data about broader occupational groups, the report has wage data specific to jobs within those groups.
The report also identified top-paying occupations by education and training requirements for 2018:
- Master’s degree: Computer and information research scientists – $116,600 annually.
- Bachelor’s degree: Sales managers – $150,250 annually.
- Associate degree: Radiation therapists – $91,750 annually.
- Postsecondary non-degree: Court reporters: $74,990 annually.
The full wage report may be viewed online.
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor. You may reach him at Bergenheim@PBN.com.
