Rhode Island Career & Training Directory
Explore 218 careers with Rhode Island-specific salary data, licensing requirements, and 12 accredited schools.
Top Careers in Rhode Island
Rhode Island's Defense, Healthcare, and Tourism Economy Drive Compact Career Demand
Rhode Island packs a surprisingly diverse economy into the smallest state by land area. The Naval Station Newport and Naval Undersea Warfare Center are major defense employers, driving demand for electronics technicians and cybersecurity specialists. Lifespan and Care New England are the dominant healthcare networks. The state's coastal tourism economy fuels a robust hospitality and food service sector. Providence has a growing design and digital arts economy (home to RISD). Wages run 5–8% above national medians, reflecting the state's position in the high-wage New England economy.
Registered Nurse
- Median Salary
- $82,400/yr
- Job Growth
- +5.8% (2022–2032)
- Training Time
- 2–4 years (ADN or BSN)
Electrician
- Median Salary
- $74,400/yr
- Job Growth
- +9.7% (2022–2032)
- Training Time
- 4–5 years (apprenticeship)
Cybersecurity Analyst
- Median Salary
- $102,400/yr
- Job Growth
- +32.0% (2022–2032)
- Training Time
- 4-year bachelor's degree + certs
Physical Therapist
- Median Salary
- $90,800/yr
- Job Growth
- +16.3% (2022–2032)
- Training Time
- 3-year doctoral program (DPT)
Biomedical Technician
- Median Salary
- $64,400/yr
- Job Growth
- +10.1% (2022–2032)
- Training Time
- 2-year associate degree
Plumber
- Median Salary
- $68,800/yr
- Job Growth
- +8.0% (2022–2032)
- Training Time
- 4–5 years (apprenticeship)
Salary figures based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024/2025. Growth projections from BLS Employment Projections 2022–2032. State figures reflect Rhode Island-specific wage data; individual employer pay varies.
Airline Pilot (Career Track) / Flight Student
DevOps Engineer / Site Reliability Engineer
Cybersecurity Analyst
Cloud Technician / Cloud Engineer
Construction Manager / Superintendent
Database Administrator (DBA)
Schools in Rhode Island
Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI)
RI's only public community college. 200+ degree/certificate programs across 6 locations (Warwick, Lincoln, Providence, N...
New England Institute of Technology (NEIT)
Private nonprofit technical university offering associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees in 50+ programs. Strong indu...
Lincoln Tech - Lincoln (Providence area)
Located near Providence, Pawtucket, and Warwick. Six vocational programs with hands-on labs and employer connections acr...
Rhode Island Construction Training Academy (RICTA)
State-approved apprenticeship training since 1992. Evening classes twice weekly (6–9 PM) allow full-time employment whil...
About Rhode Island's Job Market
Rhode Island's economy supports a strong demand for trained vocational professionals across healthcare, construction, technology, and transportation. The state's growing population drives steady openings for allied health workers, skilled tradespeople, and tech professionals.