# Rhode Island Job Market: Industries & Salaries (2026) | Jobs Near Me

> Explore the Rhode Island job market. Healthcare, defense, education, and offshore wind across Providence and Newport.

Rhode Island is the smallest state but has a diversified economy anchored by healthcare, naval defense, and higher education. Providence has undergone a renaissance with arts, food, and tech scenes attracting young professionals. Newport's naval presence and tourism add to the economic base.

## Top Industries

- Healthcare: Lifespan (Rhode Island Hospital, Miriam), Care New England, and CharterCARE. Healthcare is the largest employer with 80,000+ workers. Brown Medical School drives research.

- Defense & Naval: Naval Station Newport, Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC), and General Dynamics/Electric Boat (Quonset Point). 25,000+ defense jobs. Submarine construction is a major economic driver.

- Education: Brown University, RISD, URI, Providence College, and Johnson & Wales. Higher education employs 25,000+ and drives the creative economy.

- Hospitality & Tourism: Newport mansions, beaches, Providence food scene. $7B+ tourism industry supporting 60,000+ jobs.

- Manufacturing: Jewelry manufacturing heritage (Warwick/Cranston), marine/boat building, and specialty manufacturing. 35,000+ manufacturing workers.

## Major Employers

| Employer | Industry | Approx. RI Employees |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Lifespan | Healthcare | 15,000+ |

| State of Rhode Island | Government | 14,000+ |

| Brown University | Education | 7,000+ |

| Care New England | Healthcare | 8,000+ |

| CVS Health | Healthcare/Retail | 5,000+ (HQ nearby) |

| U.S. Navy (Newport) | Military | 8,000+ |

| General Dynamics | Defense | 4,000+ |

## Average Salary by Region

| Region | Avg Salary | Cost of Living Index |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Providence | $59,870 | 112 |

| Newport | $56,340 | 125 |

| Warwick-Cranston | $55,480 | 108 |

| Woonsocket | $50,240 | 98 |

## Growing Sectors

- Offshore Wind: Rhode Island built the nation's first offshore wind farm (Block Island). Growing into an offshore wind industry hub with Port of Davisville as staging area. 3,000+ wind jobs projected.

- Blue Economy: Marine technology, aquaculture, and ocean science. URI Graduate School of Oceanography and marine tech startups drive innovation.

- Creative Economy: RISD, Brown, and Providence's arts scene create a design and creative technology cluster. $4B+ creative economy.

## Remote Work Availability

Providence offers Boston-adjacent cultural amenities at lower cost. Many Boston remote workers have relocated to RI for the combination of affordability, ocean access, and Amtrak connectivity (1 hour to Boston). Growing coworking scene downtown.

## FAQ

### What is the minimum wage in Rhode Island?

$14.00/hour with annual increases scheduled. Tipped: $3.89/hour. Providence area market rates typically start at $15-17+.

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