Accountant salary and cost of hiring in Rhode Island
The median accountant in Rhode Island earned $95,820 a year in May 2025[1], 14.5% above the US median of $83,680. That puts Rhode Island at #9 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 13-2011. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $59,920 | $95,820 | $150,320 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Rhode Island earns $76,400–$120,280; the top tenth earns $150,320 or more, 2.5 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Rhode Island median that makes about $136,886 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in Rhode Island
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $119,190 | 8,250 |
What an accountant does
An accountant goes beyond bookkeeping: month-end close, financial statements, budgets, management reports and support for audits and tax filings.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | +1.3% | |
| Washington | +0.8% | |
| Rhode Island | +0.0% | |
| Delaware | -0.8% | |
| Virginia | -2.6% |
Questions
How much does an accountant earn in Rhode Island?
The median was $95,820 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $76,400 to $120,280.
What does it cost to employ an accountant in Rhode Island?
About $136,886 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Rhode Island do accountants earn the most?
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA, with a median of $95,020 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.