Average RN Salary in Rhode Island: See How Much RI Nurses Make
Updated June 16, 2023 · 4 Min Read
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Rhode Island is famous for its coastal beauty, stunning Gilded Age mansions, and its status as the smallest state in the country. This guide to registered nurse (RN) salaries in Rhode Island has the information nurses need to negotiate the highest possible pay.
Keep reading to learn about typical registered nurse salaries in Rhode Island, areas where income is highest, and how other nursing salaries compare.
- Average Rhode Island RN Salary: $85,270 (Ranks 12th among all states)
- Hourly Rhode Island RN Salary: $40.99
- Projected Rhode Island RN Employment Growth (2018-2028): 4%
Source: BLS, Projections Central
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Average RN Salaries in Rhode Island
The average annual RN salary in Rhode Island is $85,270, which amounts to an average hourly salary of $40.99, ranking as the 12th-highest among all states. According to the BLS, the national median RN salary is $77,600.
Half of all registered nurse salaries in Rhode Island are between $75,440 and $95,360, and the highest 10% of RN salaries in Rhode Island are $101,650 or higher. The average salary for all jobs in Rhode Island is $62,120, so the gap between the average registered nurse salary in Rhode Island and the state average is smaller than in many other states.
| Percentile | Average Annual RN Salary | Average Hourly RN Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $61,340 | $29.49 |
| 25% | $75,440 | $36.27 |
| 50% (Median) | $78,900 | $37.93 |
| 75% | $95,360 | $45.85 |
| 90% | $101,650 | 48.87 |
Source: BLS
Rhode Island RN Salary, Adjusted for Cost of Living
Rhode Island's cost of living index is 101.8, which means that the cost of standard goods and services (such as housing, food, transportation, and clothing) is only 1.8% higher than the national average.
Adjusted for cost of living, the average registered nurse salary in Rhode Island is $83,735. It moves just one place when adjusted for cost of living, with the average RN salary in Rhode Island shifting from the 12th-highest salary in the country to 13th place.
- Average RN Salary Adjusted for Cost of Living: $83,735 (Ranks 13th among all states)
- Cost of Living Index (RPP): 101.8 (1.8% higher than the U.S. average)
Highest-Paying Cities for RNs in Rhode Island
As the smallest state, Rhode Island has only two metropolitan areas. The Norwich-New London-Westerly area (which includes part of Connecticut) has the highest RN salaries in Rhode Island, at an average of $89,250. The Providence-Warwick area has the second-highest average salary at $85,200.
While Brown University in Providence no longer has a nursing school, its medical school and health system are among the most famous in the area. Providence's Newport Hospital and The Miriam Hospital are magnet hospitals. Both areas are known for their beautiful landscapes and their historical significance in early United States history.
Average Salaries for Other Nursing Roles in Rhode Island
The projected job growth rate for RNs in Rhode Island is lower than the 9% projection for nurses nationwide from 2020-2030, so earning a graduate degree in nursing could be a wise career investment.
A doctorate of nursing practice (DNP) takes approximately three years and qualifies graduates to pursue work as nurse anesthetists, the highest-paying nursing specialty. You can earn a DNP or a master of science in nursing to seek employment as a nurse practitioner or nurse midwife.
- Nursing Assistants: $35,610
- LPN/LVNs: $59,800
- Nurse Midwives: $114,300
- Nurse Practitioners: $126,760
Source: BLS
Methodology and Sources
Registered nursing salary data by state is collected from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, released on March 31, 2022. Data reflects RN salaries as of May 2021. The highest-paying cities and states for RNs are ranked by average annual salary.
Cost-of-living data is collected from the U.S Bureau of Economic Analysis real personal income for states and metropolitan areas, released on December 14, 2021. RN salary adjusted for cost of living is calculated by multiplying each state's RN salary by its regional price parity (RPP). RPP measures differences in the cost of goods and services in a region compared to national prices.
Projected employment growth data by state is collected from Projections Central.
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