How Much Does an NP Make in Rhode Island in 2026?

A typical NP in Rhode Island earns about $65.37 per hour ($135,970 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $11,331 a month or $2,615 a week, figures calculated from the annual total. Pay at this level covers routine living costs across most of the state comfortably. Rhode Island's NP pay sits well within the upper half of the national range.

Rhode Island pay runs about 3% above the national figure of $132,300 a year ($63.61 an hour), a gap that adds up over a career. That places the state 13th out of 51 states and Washington, D.C., for NP pay. Nationally, more than 323,040 NPs are employed, a total that dwarfs Rhode Island's 1,180 NPs. Even so, Rhode Island's smaller workforce earns pay that holds up well against the rest of the country.

Entry-level positions in Rhode Island typically offer around $111,420 a year ($53.57 an hour), according to the same wage data. Pay generally rises from there as NPs gain experience and take on more responsibility. Within a few years, many reach the state's typical pay of $135,970 a year. The climb from entry-level to typical pay reflects growing clinical experience and broader scope of practice.

Experienced NPs in Rhode Island often earn upwards of $163,450 a year, and the top 10% make over $176,410 a year ($84.81 an hour). That is a spread of $64,990 between entry-level and top-tier pay. Setting, years of experience, and specialty tend to separate the two groups more than location within the state. Providence, the state's largest employment center, is where much of that top-tier pay concentrates.

Rhode Island NP pay has climbed steadily over the past decade. In 2015, typical pay stood at $103,720 a year; by 2025 it had reached $135,970 a year, a gain of $32,250. That amounts to a 31% rise over ten years, according to the latest government wage data.

Nationally, NP pay rose 35% over the same decade, meaning Rhode Island's climb ran slightly behind the country as a whole. Pay in the state moved up in nearly every one of the past ten years, with only a brief dip in 2022. For someone starting a career now, that decade of gains points to pay that has trended upward, though nothing about future years is guaranteed.

Rhode Island's wage data covers two metro areas, Providence and Warwick, and pay is fairly uniform across the state. Both report typical pay of $135,520 a year ($65.15 an hour) for NPs, figures that cover each metro area in full. That figure sits just below the statewide typical pay of $135,970, meaning location within Rhode Island makes little difference to a paycheck.

There is no meaningful city spread in Rhode Island; the state's two metro areas post identical figures, a difference of $0. Providence also holds the largest NP workforce in the state, with 1,540 jobs reported in its metro area. Rhode Island's small size likely explains why pay does not vary by city, unlike larger states where cost of living shifts sharply from one region to the next.

Rhode Island's neighbors both pay more. Massachusetts NPs earn a typical $142,440 a year, about 5% higher than Rhode Island's figure, while Connecticut pays $138,470 a year, roughly 2% higher. Both gaps are modest rather than dramatic. NP licensure earned in Rhode Island can often be transferred or endorsed into a nearby state, so commuting or relocating across the border for higher pay is a realistic option for those willing to make the move.

NPs in Rhode Island typically earn $135,970 a year ($65.37 an hour), a figure that has climbed 31% over the past decade. Pay runs slightly above the national figure and sits fairly evenly across the state's metro areas. Readers weighing a move or a new license should check Rhode Island's state licensing or registry page for requirements, and the city pages for local pay figures in Providence and Warwick.