What the numbers say
The median wage for Accountants and Auditors in Rhode Island was $90,040 in 2024, about 6.7% above the national median of $84,407. That is a real but modest premium. Rhode Island is not among the highest-paying states for this occupation, but it does come in ahead of the US figure.
The spread across earners is wide. Someone at the 10th percentile earned around $58,970, while someone at the 90th earned $145,290. That is a gap of roughly $86,000 between the lower and upper ends of the field. In practice, that range reflects how much seniority, firm size, and specialization matter in accounting. A staff accountant at a small local firm and a senior auditor at a regional bank are both in this occupational category.
The mean wage of $97,210 runs about $7,000 above the median. A smaller group of higher earners is pulling the average up. For most workers in the state, the $90,040 median is the more representative figure.
Rhode Island's cost-of-living index sits at 100 in our data, right at the national baseline. That means the nominal premium over the US median translates directly into real purchasing power. The $5,600 gap does not get erased by higher local prices.
BLS projects average growth for this occupation nationally through 2034, at 4.6% over the decade. Employment for Accountants and Auditors in Rhode Island stood at about 5,980 in 2024.
Salary distribution
Where Rhode Island accountants and auditors fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $74,470 and $112,090, with a median of $90,040.
Accountants and Auditors in Rhode Island: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 8 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $85,500. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 2 | $85,500 |
| Level II — qualified | 4 | $82,727 |
| Level III — experienced | 2 | $129,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Accountants and Auditors in Rhode Island. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | Accountants and Auditors - KBGFJG181173-4 | 6 | $85,500 |
| Asia Restaurants, Inc. | Accountant | 1 | $79,955 |
| The Atlantic House LLC | Accountant | 1 | $79,955 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Accountants and Auditors - KBGFJG71906-15 at Ernst & Young U.S. LLP$129,000JohnstonWage Level IIIDecided Aug 21, 2025I-200-25226-242442
- Accountant at Asia Restaurants, Inc.$79,955LincolnWage Level IIDecided Mar 10, 2025I-200-25062-737099
- Accountant at The Atlantic House LLC$79,955NarragansettWage Level IIDecided Oct 25, 2024I-200-24292-417978
- Accountants and Auditors - KBGFJG181173-4 at Ernst & Young U.S. LLP$85,500ProvidenceWage Level IIDecided Mar 7, 2025I-200-25060-735628
- Accountants and Auditors - KBGFJG181173-4 at Ernst & Young U.S. LLP$85,500ProvidenceWage Level IIDecided Mar 7, 2025I-200-25060-735626
- Accountants and Auditors - KBGFJG229635-3 at Ernst & Young U.S. LLP$85,500ProvidenceWage Level IDecided Feb 7, 2025I-200-25031-656284
- Accountants and Auditors - KBGFJG229635-3 at Ernst & Young U.S. LLP$85,500ProvidenceWage Level IDecided Feb 7, 2025I-200-25031-656288
- Accountants and Auditors - KBGFJG71906-13 at Ernst & Young U.S. LLP$129,000JohnstonWage Level IIIDecided Oct 3, 2024I-200-24270-366828
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Accountants and Auditors pay by experience level in Rhode Island
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Rhode Island over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Economics and Accounting
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 3.9 / 5
Deductive Reasoning
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 3.9 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 3.9 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Mathematical Reasoning
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Prepare detailed reports on audit findings.
- 02
Report to management about asset utilization and audit results, and recommend changes in operations and financial activities.
- 03
Collect and analyze data to detect deficient controls, duplicated effort, extravagance, fraud, or non-compliance with laws, regulations, and management policies.
- 04
Supervise auditing of establishments, and determine scope of investigation required.
- 05
Inspect account books and accounting systems for efficiency, effectiveness, and use of accepted accounting procedures to record transactions.
- 06
Examine and evaluate financial and information systems, recommending controls to ensure system reliability and data integrity.
- 07
Confer with company officials about financial and regulatory matters.
- 08
Inspect cash on hand, notes receivable and payable, negotiable securities, and canceled checks to confirm records are accurate.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.6%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for accountants and auditors in major Rhode Island metropolitan areas.
- Providence$88,650
Compare Accountants and Auditors pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Accountants and Auditors in Rhode Island?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Accountants and Auditors in Rhode Island is $90,040.
- How does Rhode Island compare to the national median for Accountants and Auditors?
- The Rhode Island median is +6.7% versus the BLS national figure of $84,407.
- What is the salary range for Accountants and Auditors in Rhode Island?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $58,970 and the 90th-percentile at $145,290, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Accountants and Auditors a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.6% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Accountants and Auditors?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.