Lawyers Salary
Lawyers in Rhode Island make a median of $138,960 a year, or about $66.81 an hour. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $268K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.77), that's roughly $136,543 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,544/month, or 18.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Rhode Island. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $139K get you in Rhode Island?
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What this looks like in Rhode Island
Pay for lawyers in Rhode Island runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $160K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,544/month, 18.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 101.77) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Rhode Island can be a reasonable trade-off for lawyerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rhode Island
Entry-level lawyers (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $139K. Top earners bring in $268K or more, a $188K spread from bottom to top.
Lawyers salary by metro in Rhode Island
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick | $133K | -4% | 2,380 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rhode Island numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rhode Island?
Yes — at the median salary of $139K, rent takes 18.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,544/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for lawyers in Rhode Island?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new lawyers typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,843/month. At HUD’s $1,544/month FMR, rent would take 32% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is lawyer a high-paying job in Rhode Island?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $139K here vs. $160K nationally.
How does Rhode Island compare to the national average for lawyers?
Rhode Island pays $139K median vs. the U.S. average of $160K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $137K — below the national median.
How much do lawyers make in Rhode Island?
The median is $138,960 a year, that works out to about $67 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $80,710, and experienced lawyers can clear $268,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $139K enough to live in Rhode Island?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,362/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,544/month, which eats 18.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a lawyers salary go in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has a Regional Price Parity of 101.77 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median lawyers salary is worth about $136,543 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do lawyers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.