How Much Does a CNA Make in Rhode Island in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Rhode Island, from federal wage data (May 2025), with pay by city, the ten-year trend, and how the state compares.
BLS OES May 2025 · Rhode Island · typical annual pay from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth
A typical CNA in Rhode Island earns about $22.33 per hour ($46,440 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That runs about 10% above the national figure of $20.32 per hour ($42,260 per year), putting Rhode Island 13th among all 50 states and the District of Columbia for CNA pay.
Around 10,220 CNAs work across the state, giving these figures a solid base to stand on.
How much does a CNA make in Rhode Island?
CNA pay by career stage in Rhode Island
| Career stage | Rhode Island | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $39,220$18.86 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $44,760$21.52 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $46,440$22.33 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $47,460$22.82 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $54,950$26.42 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · starting out is the 10th percentile, first years the 25th, typical the median, experienced the 75th, top 10% the 90th
CNA pay growth in Rhode Island
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in Rhode Island · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
Rhode Island CNA pay has climbed steadily over the past decade, from $28,290 in 2015 to $46,440 in 2025, a 64% rise worth $18,150 more per year. That matches the national decade increase, also 64%, so Rhode Island's gains have kept pace with the rest of the country. For someone starting out now, that decade-long climb suggests pay has moved in one direction: up, though nothing is promised going forward.
CNA salary by city in Rhode Island
City figures reflect each city's full metro area. Pay for CNAs in Rhode Island is fairly uniform across the state: Providence and Warwick both show a typical pay of $46,330 per year ($22.27 per hour).
About 13,030 CNAs work in each of these metro areas. Wages usually track local living costs, so this evenness across Rhode Island points to similar living costs from one part of the state to another.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Rhode Island | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence metro incl. Warwick | $46,330 | $22.27 | 0% | 13,030 |
Each row is one BLS metro area; cities that share a metro share its figures · BLS OES May 2025 · Rhode Island typical pay $46,440
How Rhode Island compares with nearby states
Rhode Island's CNA pay sits close to its neighbors. Massachusetts pays a bit more, at $46,680 per year, about 1% above Rhode Island, while Connecticut pays a bit less, at $44,790 per year, about 4% below. A CNA licensed in one state can often test or transfer into a nearby one, so nearby pay is worth knowing.
| State | Typical pay | Vs Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $46,440 | baseline |
| Massachusetts | $46,680 | +1% |
| Connecticut | $44,790 | -4% |
Bordering states, ranked by typical CNA pay · BLS OES May 2025
Is Rhode Island a good state for CNAs?
CNAs in Rhode Island earn a competitive wage: typical pay is $46,440 a year, 10% above the national figure, ranking 13th of 51. For every 1,000 jobs in Rhode Island, about 20 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. That makes the local economy more reliant on CNAs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year. Taken together, Rhode Island is one of the better-paying states for CNAs.
Summary
CNAs in Rhode Island now earn a typical $46,440 per year ($22.33 per hour), a figure that has climbed 64% over the past decade. For certification requirements, check Rhode Island's state registry page; for local pay figures in Providence, Warwick, and nearby areas, see the city pages on this site.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Rhode Island?
- A CNA in Rhode Island typically earns **$22.33 per hour**, or about **$46,440 per year**, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That is roughly 10% above the national typical pay of $42,260 per year.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Rhode Island?
- Typical hourly pay for a CNA in Rhode Island is **$22.33**, per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Entry-level positions typically start around $18.86 per hour, while experienced CNAs often earn upwards of $26.42 per hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Rhode Island?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Rhode Island typically offer around **$18.86 per hour**, or about $39,220 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Pay rises with experience, reaching a typical $22.33 per hour statewide.
- Which city in Rhode Island pays CNAs the most?
- Pay is fairly uniform across Rhode Island. Providence and Warwick, the state's two tracked metro areas, both show a typical pay of **$46,330 per year** ($22.27 per hour), so location within the state makes little difference.
- Is CNA pay in Rhode Island higher than the national rate?
- Yes. Rhode Island's typical CNA pay of $46,440 per year runs about **10% above** the national figure of $42,260 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025).