Lawyer salary in Rhode Island
Lawyers in Rhode Island earn a median of $138,960 a year ($66.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,840 workers.
Pay ranges from $80,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $268,270 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $159,670. Rhode Island ranks 18th of 51 states for lawyers pay. There are 3.7 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $159,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Rhode Island
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,710 | $38.80 |
| 25th percentile | $108,200 | $52.02 |
| Median | $138,960 | $66.81 |
| 75th percentile | $200,130 | $96.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $268,270 | $128.98 |
| Average (mean) | $159,690 | $76.78 |
Half of lawyers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,580 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,790 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,344.62 |
| Weekly | $2,672.31 |
| Hourly | $66.81 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in cities in Rhode Island
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $133,000 | 2,380 |
Highest-paying states for lawyers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| California | $195,080 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 |
| Delaware | $173,510 |
| Colorado | $168,520 |
| Virginia | $167,210 |
| Connecticut | $163,600 |
| New Jersey | $161,430 |
| Illinois | $160,800 |
Related jobs in Rhode Island
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $239,760 | $115.27 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $63,770 | $30.66 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $56,250 | $27.04 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $63,300 | $30.44 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $79,350 | $38.15 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 23-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Rhode Island?
The median salary for lawyers in Rhode Island is $138,960 a year, or $66.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $80,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $268,270 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Rhode Island?
The top 10% of lawyers in Rhode Island earn at least $268,270 a year. The top 25% earn $200,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Rhode Island?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $80,710 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $108,200 or less.
How many lawyers work in Rhode Island?
About 1,840 lawyers are employed in Rhode Island, not counting the self-employed.