State profile · NCES F-33 FY2022
Teacher Salary in Rhode Island
According to the NCES Common Core of Data finance survey, estimated teacher pay and per-pupil spending are available across 36 public school districts in Rhode Island.
- $96,093
- Est. state avg salary
- +12.1%
- vs national
- #11
- National rank
- 36
- Districts
Rhode Island's estimated average teacher salary is $96,093, meaningfully above the national average of $85,759, ranking #11 of 51 states and territories, across 36 public school districts (NCES CCD F-33, FY2022).
- upper third nationally (#11 of 51)
- $36,735 spread between its highest- and lowest-paying districts
- +12.1% vs the national average
- +18.6% since FY2019
- #12 of 51 purchasing-power-adjusted (BEA RPP 104.5)
What does the NCES F-33 data show for Rhode Island?
Rhode Island reports 36 public school districts in the NCES Common Core of Data FY2022 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, with an average teacher salary of $96,093. That places the state in the upper third of US teacher-pay rankings - #11 of 51, meaningfully above the national average of $85,759 (+12.1%). The state's public schools serve 122,587 students across these districts. Most district figures divide total instructional spending by the district's REPORTED teacher headcount (NCES CCD Staff Universe Survey); a small number of large consolidated districts that report staffing only at a sub-district level fall back to an estimated ratio instead, since total instructional spending also includes aides and assistants, both figures run somewhat above survey-reported classroom-teacher-only salaries, treat this as a relative cross-district comparison, not an exact paycheck, and see our methodology for the formula, its data source per district, and its limits.
Among enrolling districts, pay varies widely: Narragansett reports the highest estimated average salary at $119,791, while Johnston sits at the lower end at $83,056 - a spread of $36,735 between top and bottom reporting districts. Licensing rules, state aid formulas, collective bargaining density, and local tax bases all drive this intra-state variation. Urban and suburban districts with larger tax bases typically lead, while rural districts often lag despite lower cost of living.
Teacher compensation here reflects both state policy choices, the statutory minimum salary schedule, pension funding levels, licensure reciprocity, and the funding formula that determines how much state aid each district receives per pupil. A #11 national rank signals where Rhode Island sits in the competition for teachers against neighboring states; teacher shortage areas typically correlate with lower pay rank. Figures below are per-district averages derived from the F-33 instructional salary expenditure field (Z33) divided by each district's reported teacher FTE (or an estimated FTE for the small minority with no reported figure), a district-level aggregate, not individual salary records.
Purchasing-power-adjusted rank
Rhode Island's nominal average teacher salary ranks #11 of 51 states and territories. Adjusted by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis's 2022 Regional Price Parity (104.5, US = 100, a relative state-level price-level index, not a district or metro cost-of-living figure), the estimate becomes $91,997, ranking #12 of 51 , 1 places lower than the nominal rank once relative price levels are factored in. This purchasing-power view is not published by NEA's teacher-pay rankings or the aggregator sites; it comes from combining our own F-33-derived salary estimate with BEA's public RPP series. See the full 51-state release for methodology and download.
Rhode Island's estimated average teacher salary, FY2019-FY2022
Highest-paying districts in Rhode Island
Estimated average teacher salary, enrolling districts (200+ students)
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$119,791 Est. avg salary
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$112,300 Est. avg salary
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$108,917 Est. avg salary
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$105,464 Est. avg salary
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$105,286 Est. avg salary
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$103,426 Est. avg salary
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$102,946 Est. avg salary
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$102,599 Est. avg salary
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$102,461 Est. avg salary
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$102,275 Est. avg salary
What this shows Narragansett leads Rhode Island on the F-33 instructional-salary estimate. Service entities (CTCs, county offices) are excluded, their enrollment-based ratios are not reliable salary figures.
Top 3 districts
Districts by Estimated Teacher Salary
| District | Est. Avg Salary | Enrollment | Per-Pupil Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narragansett | $119,791 | 1,188 | $29,387 |
| Lincoln | $112,300 | 3,230 | $21,900 |
| Warwick | $108,917 | 8,029 | $25,331 |
| Barrington | $105,464 | 3,354 | $19,107 |
| South Kingstown | $105,286 | 2,586 | $26,879 |
| Scituate | $103,426 | 1,195 | $24,347 |
| Smithfield | $102,946 | 2,386 | $19,241 |
| West Warwick | $102,599 | 3,543 | $21,106 |
| Glocester | $102,461 | 536 | $21,785 |
| Central Falls | $102,275 | 2,666 | $24,336 |
| Bristol Warren | $100,632 | 2,900 | $22,620 |
| Little Compton | $99,270 | 208 | $41,524 |
| Coventry | $99,192 | 4,339 | $20,700 |
| Providence | $98,083 | 21,345 | $26,311 |
| Jamestown | $95,909 | 438 | $36,539 |
| Westerly | $95,042 | 2,327 | $27,925 |
| Tiverton | $94,990 | 1,638 | $23,482 |
| Middletown | $94,567 | 2,014 | $23,803 |
| North Kingstown | $93,111 | 3,876 | $20,832 |
| East Greenwich | $93,068 | 2,536 | $19,431 |
| Chariho | $91,657 | 3,185 | $21,455 |
| Exeter-West Greenwich | $91,496 | 1,554 | $26,970 |
| North Providence | $91,173 | 3,400 | $21,042 |
| East Providence | $91,142 | 5,026 | $22,348 |
| Cranston | $91,119 | 10,096 | $20,205 |
| Woonsocket | $90,847 | 5,526 | $22,384 |
| Cumberland | $90,522 | 4,689 | $18,084 |
| Foster-Glocester | $90,345 | 1,392 | $23,297 |
| North Smithfield | $90,061 | 1,591 | $20,257 |
| Portsmouth | $87,293 | 2,224 | $21,150 |
| Pawtucket | $86,560 | 7,986 | $21,534 |
| Foster | $83,762 | 221 | $22,665 |
| Burrillville | $83,658 | 2,106 | $19,801 |
| Johnston | $83,056 | 3,020 | $23,172 |
Specialized non-enrolling agencies (career/technical centers, county offices, service co-ops) are excluded from the salary ranking, their enrollment-based estimates are not reliable.
Lowest-Paying Districts in Rhode Island
| District | Est. Avg Salary | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| Johnston | $83,056 | 3,020 |
| Burrillville | $83,658 | 2,106 |
| Foster | $83,762 | 221 |
| Pawtucket | $86,560 | 7,986 |
| Portsmouth | $87,293 | 2,224 |
| North Smithfield | $90,061 | 1,591 |
| Foster-Glocester | $90,345 | 1,392 |
| Cumberland | $90,522 | 4,689 |
| Woonsocket | $90,847 | 5,526 |
| Cranston | $91,119 | 10,096 |
Among enrolling districts (200+ students) with a reliable estimate; service entities excluded, see methodology.
Compare Nearby-Ranked States
Data: NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey + Staff Universe Survey, FY2022. Salary figures divide instructional expenditure (variable Z33) by each district's reported teacher FTE, or an estimated FTE for the small minority with no reported figure. Not individual salary data. Read our methodology.
Rhode Island teacher salary FAQ
What is the average teacher salary in Rhode Island?
Across Rhode Island's 36 public school districts, the average teacher salary is $96,093 (NCES CCD F-33 finance data divided by CCD Staff Universe Survey teacher headcounts, FY2022). This figure is derived from total instructional spending and runs above survey-reported classroom-teacher-only salaries, read it as a relative comparison.
Which Rhode Island school district pays teachers the most?
Narragansett reports the highest average teacher salary in Rhode Island at $119,791, while Johnston sits at the lower end at $83,056.
How does Rhode Island teacher pay compare to the national average?
Rhode Island's average of $96,093 is meaningfully above the national average of $85,759 (+12.1%), ranking #11 of 51 US states and territories.
How many school districts are in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has 36 public school districts in the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, together serving 122,587 students.
Can teachers earn $100,000 in Rhode Island?
11 of 34 Rhode Island districts with reliable data report an estimated average teacher salary of $100,000 or more, led by Narragansett at $119,791. This is a district-wide average, not an individual salary, step, or years-of-experience figure.
How does Rhode Island rank after adjusting for cost of living?
Adjusted by the BEA's 2022 Regional Price Parity (104.5, US=100), Rhode Island's purchasing-power-adjusted estimated teacher salary is $91,997, ranking #12 of 51 states and territories, lower than its #11 nominal-salary rank. This is a relative state-level price-level comparison, not take-home pay, taxes, or district/metro cost of living.
Related
According to the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) F-33 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, PlainTeacher's figures are computed directly, no number is typed in by an editor. Rhode Island's district figures are aggregated directly from each district's FY2022 F-33 submission, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Data current as of FY2022.
| Publisher | PlainTeacher |
| Sources | Public official public datasets |