
Fastest-growing jobs in Rhode Island
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis revealed that, as of September 2025, the national hiring rate has reached a decade low, with the exception of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Associated Press reports that several factors have contributed to this, including the impact of the eleven interest rate hikes that occurred in 2022 and 2023 and the dozens of tariffs enacted by President Donald Trump since the beginning of the year.
Economists generally agree that the long-run breakeven employment growth rate (or the rate at which new jobs need to be added to keep up with population growth) is somewhere between 70,000 and 90,000 jobs per month. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in August 2025, just 22,000 new jobs were added. June and July saw a combined 87,000 new jobs added to the workforce.
Those numbers are bleak, to be sure, but not all employment news is bad. Certain sectors, like health care and social services, continue to see rapid growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said average hourly earnings for all employees are also up by 3.7% over the past 12 months. The total number of hours worked per week has been edging down for all employees, providing opportunities for much-needed work-life balance.
The employment story also looks quite different from state to state. Some places, like Utah, New Mexico, Hawai'i, and Idaho, are seeing high-percentage job growth year over year; others, like Washington D.C., Iowa, and Kansas, have actually seen a shrinkage in the overall number of job openings.
Using BLS jobs data, Stacker determined the fastest-growing jobs in Rhode Island. Occupations were ranked by the percentage increase in employment between 2023 and 2024. Jobs were excluded from the ranking if they had fewer than 1,000 people working in them in the state.
Keep reading to learn which jobs are growing the fastest in Rhode Island.

#50. Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +6.2% (60 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,020
--- Employment in 2023: 960
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $63,870

#49. Civil Engineers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +6.2% (70 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,200
--- Employment in 2023: 1,130
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $112,250
#48. Public Relations Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +6.2% (80 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,370
--- Employment in 2023: 1,290
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $72,770

#47. First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +7.2% (110 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,640
--- Employment in 2023: 1,530
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $80,100

#46. Packers and Packagers, Hand
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +7.5% (160 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,300
--- Employment in 2023: 2,140
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $33,560

#45. Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +7.7% (210 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,940
--- Employment in 2023: 2,730
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,520

#44. Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +7.7% (210 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,940
--- Employment in 2023: 2,730
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,520

#43. Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +8.0% (140 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,900
--- Employment in 2023: 1,760
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $47,540
#42. Pharmacy Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +8.2% (130 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,720
--- Employment in 2023: 1,590
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,730

#41. Security Guards
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +8.5% (250 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,190
--- Employment in 2023: 2,940
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,900

#40. Bartenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +8.5% (280 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,560
--- Employment in 2023: 3,280
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $33,700
#39. Child, Family, and School Social Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +8.9% (190 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,320
--- Employment in 2023: 2,130
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $67,150

#38. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +9.1% (130 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,560
--- Employment in 2023: 1,430
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $49,770

#37. Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +9.3% (300 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,540
--- Employment in 2023: 3,240
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $77,630

#36. Home Health and Personal Care Aides
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +9.5% (760 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 8,800
--- Employment in 2023: 8,040
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $41,890

#35. Home Health and Personal Care Aides
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +9.5% (760 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 8,800
--- Employment in 2023: 8,040
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $41,890
#34. First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +10.0% (430 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,740
--- Employment in 2023: 4,310
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $75,920

#33. Software Developers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +10.1% (550 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,010
--- Employment in 2023: 5,460
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $128,660

#32. Pharmacists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +10.3% (120 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,290
--- Employment in 2023: 1,170
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $128,010

#31. Loan Officers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +11.4% (160 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,560
--- Employment in 2023: 1,400
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $77,460

#30. Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +11.9% (140 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,320
--- Employment in 2023: 1,180
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $63,580

#29. Training and Development Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +12.6% (140 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,250
--- Employment in 2023: 1,110
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $72,600

#28. Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +14.2% (160 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,290
--- Employment in 2023: 1,130
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $83,480

#27. Personal Financial Advisors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +14.2% (160 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,290
--- Employment in 2023: 1,130
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $100,880
#26. Physical Therapists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +14.5% (180 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,420
--- Employment in 2023: 1,240
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $102,900
#25. Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +15.1% (140 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,070
--- Employment in 2023: 930
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $42,970

#24. Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +15.6% (330 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,450
--- Employment in 2023: 2,120
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $42,950
#23. Waiters and Waitresses
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.8% (1,580 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 11,010
--- Employment in 2023: 9,430
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $42,600

#22. Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.4% (150 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,010
--- Employment in 2023: 860
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $165,030

#21. General and Operations Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.5% (1,350 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 9,060
--- Employment in 2023: 7,710
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $122,040

#20. Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.5% (350 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,350
--- Employment in 2023: 2,000
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $57,000
#19. Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.6% (210 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,400
--- Employment in 2023: 1,190
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $71,590
#18. Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.7% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,130
--- Employment in 2023: 960
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $81,220
#17. Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.7% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,130
--- Employment in 2023: 960
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $81,220

#16. Education Administrators, Postsecondary
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.7% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,080
--- Employment in 2023: 910
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $107,070

#15. Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.2% (220 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,210
--- Employment in 2023: 990
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $77,930

#14. Financial Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.5% (440 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,310
--- Employment in 2023: 1,870
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $160,490
#13. Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.9% (270 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,400
--- Employment in 2023: 1,130
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $30,990
#12. Paralegals and Legal Assistants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.2% (380 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,830
--- Employment in 2023: 1,450
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $54,540

#11. Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.4% (430 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,060
--- Employment in 2023: 1,630
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $78,560

#10. Dishwashers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +29.2% (640 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,830
--- Employment in 2023: 2,190
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $34,260

#9. Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +30.7% (350 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,490
--- Employment in 2023: 1,140
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $44,680
#8. Data Scientists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.2% (290 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,190
--- Employment in 2023: 900
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $114,390

#7. Marketing Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +33.3% (280 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,120
--- Employment in 2023: 840
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $171,250
#6. Bus Drivers, School
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +34.2% (520 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,040
--- Employment in 2023: 1,520
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $49,430
#5. Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.3% (710 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,720
--- Employment in 2023: 2,010
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $30,020

#4. Medical and Health Services Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +36.8% (680 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,530
--- Employment in 2023: 1,850
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $120,240
#3. Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +39.5% (340 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,200
--- Employment in 2023: 860
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $69,380
#2. Social and Community Service Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +39.6% (360 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,270
--- Employment in 2023: 910
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $82,310

#1. Coaches and Scouts
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +78.6% (440 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,000
--- Employment in 2023: 560
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $49,130
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Madison Troyer, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.