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The 10 Lowest Paying Jobs In Rhode Island for 2026
Reflecting on my high school job at the local movie theater, where I earned minimum wage plus free popcorn and movie tickets, I realize how times have changed. Back then, making $5.86 per hour felt acceptable, but today, it’s hard to imagine living on such a low wage.
This got me thinking: who are the lowest earners in Rhode Island in 2026?
Building on our previous analysis of the highest paying jobs in Rhode Island, we utilized the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to pinpoint the lowest paying jobs today.
After reviewing this data, it turns out that Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other are still among the lowest paid in the state.
Here’s a look at the 10 lowest paying jobs in Rhode Island for 2026:
- Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
- Counter Attendants, Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop
- Parking Lot Attendants
- Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
- Cooks, Fast Food
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
- Cashiers
For detailed insights into the salaries of these low-paying jobs, continue reading or check out other relevant articles related to the Rhode Island job market:
- The 10 Best Jobs In Rhode Island For Recent College Grads
- The 10 Fastest Growing Jobs In Rhode Island
- The 100 Highest Paying Jobs In Rhode Island
How We Identified the Lowest Paid Jobs in Rhode Island
To determine the lowest paying jobs, we analyzed the BLS data set for all job classifications in Rhode Island. This comprehensive approach allows us to provide the most accurate information available.
We will continue to update this data annually as new information is released by the BLS. The most recent figures were obtained in May 2026.
For further reading, explore:
Detailed List of the Lowest Paying Jobs in Rhode Island
| Rank | Job Title | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Textile, Apparel, And Furnishings Workers, All Other | $24,340 |
| 2 | Dining Room And Cafeteria Attendants And Bartender Helpers | $24,400 |
| 3 | Hosts And Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, And Coffee Shop | $24,610 |
| 4 | Counter Attendants, Cafeteria, Food Concession, And Coffee Shop | $24,610 |
| 5 | Parking Lot Attendants | $24,740 |
| 6 | Combined Food Preparation And Serving Workers, Including Fast Food | $24,830 |
| 7 | Veterinary Assistants And Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $24,850 |
| 8 | Cooks, Fast Food | $24,950 |
| 9 | Ushers, Lobby Attendants, And Ticket Takers | $25,100 |
| 10 | Cashiers | $25,110 |
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
