PublicPay

Federal employee salaries in Rhode Island

Full-time federal civilian employees with a published duty station in Rhode Island earned a median of $111,460 in September 2026, 2% above the all-federal median of $109,641. That ranks #11 of 51 (50 states and DC) by median pay.

Median pay
$111,460
full-time, September 2026
Middle 50%
$76,981–$137,054
25th–75th percentile
Employees
2,972
with published duty station
Rank
#11
of 51 by median
Pay distribution, full-time employees with published pay, September 2026
Rhode Island
All federal (full-time)

OPM withheld the duty-station location for 943,611 federal employees nationwide, including the entire Department of Defense civilian workforce and large parts of the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice. Those employees are not counted in any state, so state totals understate the federal presence, especially in states with large military installations.

Pay by occupation in Rhode Island

The 18 largest occupations in Rhode Island with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay (18 qualify in total).

Federal pay by occupation in Rhode Island
Occupation Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Nurse Series 0610 405 $133,817 $120,869–$150,002
Veterans Claims Examining Series 0996 313 $101,375 $84,678–$114,893
Medical Officer Series 0602 169 $286,000 $255,000–$350,000
Medical Support Assistance Series 0679 152 $60,493 $56,935–$65,246
Social Work Series 0185 98 $114,331 $101,173–$124,725
Custodial Working Series 3566 78 $45,872 $42,470–$47,563
Social Insurance Administration Series 0105 78 $107,139 $93,039–$125,031
General Health Science Series 0601 73 $95,859 $76,898–$128,410
Miscellaneous Administration and Program Series 0301 70 $104,754 $76,898–$136,622
Management and Program Analysis Series 0343 59 $131,790 $107,636–$144,659
Psychology Series 0180 57 $149,905 $132,353–$171,951
Pharmacist Series 0660 56 $160,393 $151,076–$169,304
Nursing Assistant Series 0621 48 $52,672 $52,672–$57,460
Human Resources Management Series 0201 47 $136,622 $121,651–$154,706
Air Traffic Control Series 2152 45 $129,617 $112,363–$151,689
General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series 0401 43 $128,585 $97,373–$160,668
General Attorney Series 0905 37 $156,699 $134,613–$197,200
Information Technology Management Series 2210 33 $141,469 $123,609–$175,695

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Pay by agency in Rhode Island

Federal pay by agency in Rhode Island
Agency Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Department of Veterans Affairs 2,189 $104,319 $74,444–$133,817
Social Security Administration 130 $104,319 $88,969–$130,945
Department of Commerce 124 $108,700 $86,902–$144,334
Department of Homeland Security 93 $121,651 $111,513–$144,659
Department of Transportation 85 $132,160 $114,161–$151,689
Department of Agriculture 66 $104,754 $79,228–$132,604
Department of Health and Human Services 63 $144,659 $130,049–$156,715
Department of the Interior 51 $98,679 $76,315–$128,454
Environmental Protection Agency 45 $132,604 $116,582–$168,572
Department of the Treasury 40 $132,197 $86,694–$172,133

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Change since September 2025

The median moved +1.3% from $110,057 in September 2025 to $111,460 in September 2026. Headcount went from 3,196 to 2,972 (−7.0%). A change in the median reflects both pay adjustments and who joined or left the workforce, so it is not the same as a pay raise.

States with similar median federal pay

All states ranked →