Highest-paying trades in Rhode Island
Updated September 27, 2026
Commercial divers are the highest-paying skilled trade in Rhode Island, with a median of $126,320 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 37 of the 51 trades ranked here pay more than the $56,780 median for all jobs in Rhode Island.
All 51 trades by median pay in Rhode Island
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Commercial divers+73% vs U.S. | $126,320$60.73/hr |
| 2 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door110 jobs · +49% vs U.S. | $110,900$53.32/hr |
| 3 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay30 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $107,980$51.91/hr |
| 4 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers120 jobs · +10% vs U.S. | $104,620$50.30/hr |
| 5 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers490 jobs · +40% vs U.S. | $103,810$49.91/hr |
| 6 | Structural iron and steel workers360 jobs · +57% vs U.S. | $98,320$47.27/hr |
| 7 | Brickmasons and blockmasons220 jobs · +28% vs U.S. | $79,280$38.12/hr |
| 8 | Construction and building inspectors270 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $77,420$37.22/hr |
| 9 | Insulation workers, mechanical60 jobs · +32% vs U.S. | $77,150$37.09/hr |
| 10 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment200 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $76,860$36.95/hr |
| 11 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters1,820 jobs · +20% vs U.S. | $76,470$36.77/hr |
| 12 | Security and fire alarm systems installers240 jobs · +27% vs U.S. | $76,320$36.69/hr |
| 13 | Electricians2,420 jobs · +17% vs U.S. | $74,090$35.62/hr |
| 14 | Automotive body and related repairers800 jobs · +32% vs U.S. | $72,490$34.85/hr |
| 15 | Maintenance workers, machinery110 jobs · +18% vs U.S. | $72,040$34.64/hr |
| 16 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians120 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $70,720$34.00/hr |
| 17 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines260 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $68,130$32.76/hr |
| 18 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers1,450 jobs · +10% vs U.S. | $67,370$32.39/hr |
| 19 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists350 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $67,270$32.34/hr |
| 20 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers150 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $66,960$32.19/hr |
| 21 | Sheet metal workers370 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $65,100$31.30/hr |
| 22 | Industrial machinery mechanics1,070 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $64,770$31.14/hr |
| 23 | Riggers160 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $64,260$30.89/hr |
| 24 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators970 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $63,610$30.58/hr |
| 25 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators160 jobs · +18% vs U.S. | $63,060$30.32/hr |
| 26 | Medical equipment repairers150 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $63,010$30.29/hr |
| 27 | Cement masons and concrete finishers250 jobs · +10% vs U.S. | $62,950$30.26/hr |
| 28 | Stonemasons+9% vs U.S. | $62,510$30.05/hr |
| 29 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers70 jobs · +31% vs U.S. | $62,350$29.98/hr |
| 30 | Glaziers150 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $61,650$29.64/hr |
| 31 | Roofers360 jobs · +11% vs U.S. | $61,630$29.63/hr |
| 32 | Carpenters2,580 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $60,840$29.25/hr |
| 33 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other180 jobs · +22% vs U.S. | $59,890$28.79/hr |
| 34 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians400 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $58,470$28.11/hr |
| 35 | Highway maintenance workers620 jobs · +15% vs U.S. | $57,950$27.86/hr |
| 36 | Locksmiths and safe repairers80 jobs · +12% vs U.S. | $57,360$27.58/hr |
| 37 | Construction laborers2,110 jobs · +21% vs U.S. | $57,240$27.52/hr |
| 38 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics100 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $52,160$25.08/hr |
| 39 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics2,530 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $51,770$24.89/hr |
| 40 | Mechanical door repairers−8% vs U.S. | $51,160$24.60/hr |
| 41 | Maintenance and repair workers, general4,500 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $50,900$24.47/hr |
| 42 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers2,300 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $50,580$24.32/hr |
| 43 | Home appliance repairers60 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $50,170$24.12/hr |
| 44 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers70 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $49,700$23.89/hr |
| 45 | Tile and stone setters−12% vs U.S. | $49,170$23.64/hr |
| 46 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers440 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $47,110$22.65/hr |
| 47 | Hazardous materials removal workers330 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $46,670$22.44/hr |
| 48 | Fence erectors−3% vs U.S. | $46,450$22.33/hr |
| 49 | Tire repairers and changers190 jobs · +23% vs U.S. | $46,240$22.23/hr |
| 50 | Painters, construction and maintenance1,160 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $41,590$20.00/hr |
| 51 | Bicycle repairers100 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $36,400$17.50/hr |
Linked trades have full Rhode Island pay pages, with pay in each metro area. See also: highest-paying trades in the U.S.
How we ranked them
Ranked by median annual wage in Rhode Island, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates, May 2025. “vs U.S.” compares each trade with its own national median. Which occupations count as trades: Construction occupations and installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (BLS major groups 47 and 49), plus welders, excluding first-line supervisors, helpers, and mining and oil-and-gas extraction occupations. BLS doesn't publish a Rhode Island median for 37 of the 88 trades in the national ranking, usually because too few people do that work there to estimate; they're left out. Wages exclude self-employed workers. Methodology
Questions
- What is the highest-paying trade in Rhode Island?
- Commercial divers, with a median of $126,320 a year ($60.73 an hour) in Rhode Island, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in Rhode Island?
- 5 trades have a median of $100,000 or more in Rhode Island: commercial divers ($126,320), control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door ($110,900), electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay ($107,980), electrical power-line installers and repairers ($104,620), telecommunications line installers and repairers ($103,810).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in Rhode Island?
- 37 of the 51 trades ranked here have a median above $56,780, the median for all occupations in Rhode Island.
- Do trades pay more in Rhode Island than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 39 of the 51 trades have a higher median in Rhode Island than nationally. The biggest gap is commercial divers: $126,320, 73% above the U.S. median of $72,990.
- Which trade employs the most people in Rhode Island?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 4,500 jobs and a median of $50,900 a year.