Between $69,600 and $89,500 per year in 2024, depending on the role. These figures represent the annual median wage for Rhode Island pre-K–12 teachers. Preschool teachers tend to be at the lower end of the range, while middle school teachers tend to be at the higher end, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. The median wage is the midpoint — half of teachers in each role earn more, and half earn less.
For comparison, in Rhode Island, the median wage across all occupations was $54,000 in 2024 — about 22% lower than the median preschool teacher wage.
$69.6K
median annual wage for preschool teachers in Rhode Island (2024)
$89.5K
median annual wage for middle school teachers in Rhode Island (2024)
Among teachers working in elementary, middle, and high schools, annual pay varied by the grade level taught. In Rhode Island in 2024, preschool teachers earned the least, earning around $69,600 annually. Middle school teachers made the most at around $89,500 per year. In other words, middle school teachers earned about 29% more than preschool teachers.
Middle school teachers earn $89,500 annually, more than any other RI teachers
Median annual salary of elementary and secondary school teachers, excluding teachers of students with disabilities and technical teachers (RI, 2024)
Teacher salaries vary nationwide. In 2024, Rhode Island teachers earned more than the national median for every grade level reported. The largest percentage difference was among middle school teachers, who earned 42% more than the national median. Preschool teachers — typically the lowest-paid group — earned about 32% more than their counterparts nationwide.
Rhode Island teachers earn more than the national average at every level
Median annual salary of elementary and secondary school teachers, excluding teachers of students with disabilities and technical teachers (RI, 2024)
Pay also varies by specialization. Teachers of students with disabilities (collected in the data as “special education”), earn about the same or less than general education teachers at all levels except preschool in Rhode Island. In 2024, the median wages for teachers of students with disabilities ranged from 11% lower to 17% higher than those of other teachers at the same grade level.
The largest difference for teachers of students with disabilities was at the Preschool level, where they earned $81,800 per year compared to $69,600 for other Preschool teachers, a 17% difference.
Some schools, primarily middle and high schools, also employ technical teachers. These teachers provide vocational and technical training in fields such as automotive repair, culinary arts, cosmetology, and information technology, to help students develop career skills. In Rhode Island, their median wages were $93,600 at the middle school level and $78,800 at the high school level in 2024, 5% higher and 12% lower, respectively, than those of general education teachers at the same levels.
In Rhode Island, teachers of students with disabilities out-earned other teachers only at the Preschool level.
Median annual salary of elementary and secondary school teachers (RI, 2024)
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
