HR Assistant salary and cost of hiring in Rhode Island
The median HR assistant in Rhode Island earned $56,370 a year in May 2025[1], 11.4% above the US median of $50,610. That puts Rhode Island at #6 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-4161. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $43,540 | $56,370 | $71,110 | |
| United States | $37,340 | $50,610 | $68,280 |
The middle half of HR assistants in Rhode Island earns $49,090–$62,110; the top tenth earns $71,110 or more, 1.6 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 $80,529 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 HR assistants 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 | $61,030 | 220 |
What an HR assistant does
An HR assistant runs the admin side of people work: job posts, interview scheduling, onboarding paperwork, employee records and HR questions.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | +0.9% | |
| Alaska | +0.2% | |
| Rhode Island | +0.0% | |
| Massachusetts | -0.9% | |
| Colorado | -2.6% |
Questions
How much does an HR assistant earn in Rhode Island?
The median was $56,370 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $49,090 to $62,110.
What does it cost to employ an HR assistant in Rhode Island?
About $80,529 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 HR assistants earn the most?
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA, with a median of $53,580 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4161: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434161.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.