2026-27 · State salary guide
Lowest published bachelor’s starting pay → highest published maximum across degree lanes in the districts below. Years and eligibility vary.
Rhode Island teachers averaged $85,772 in 2024-25 per NEA, 8th in the nation, and the average starting salary was $48,242.
Rhode Island teachers averaged $85,772 in 2024-25 per NEA, 8th in the nation, and the average starting salary was $48,242. The state sets no minimum salary; each district bargains its own schedule with its union. Among the eight largest districts with posted contracts, bachelor's starting pay runs from $47,099 in East Providence (2025-26) to $52,132 in Woonsocket (2026-27), and Cumberland has the highest master's maximum, $100,356.
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Experience × education
Read across from your credited step to your degree lane. These are published observations; missing steps are not estimated.
| Step | Bachelor’s | Master’s | Doctorate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $52,132 | $56,675 | $58,349 |
| 2 | $53,868 | $58,411 | $60,085 |
| 3 | $55,606 | $60,149 | $61,824 |
| 4 | $59,088 | $63,632 | $65,306 |
| 5 | $62,614 | $67,158 | $68,832 |
| 6 | $67,025 | $71,569 | $73,242 |
| 7 | $71,434 | $75,978 | $77,652 |
| 8 | $78,645 | $83,188 | $84,861 |
| 9 | $83,888 | $88,432 | $90,105 |
| 10 | $95,647 | $100,189 | $101,863 |
| Step | Bachelor’s | Master’s | Doctorate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $50,318 | $52,818 | $54,318 |
| 2 | $53,660 | $56,160 | $57,660 |
| 3 | $56,516 | $59,016 | $60,516 |
| 4 | $59,778 | $62,278 | $63,778 |
| 5 | $63,764 | $66,264 | $67,764 |
| 6 | $67,229 | $69,729 | $71,229 |
| 7 | $70,695 | $73,195 | $74,695 |
| 8 | $77,973 | $80,473 | $81,973 |
| 9 | $79,928 | $82,428 | $83,928 |
| 10 | $97,856 | $100,356 | $101,856 |
| Step | Bachelor’s | Master’s | Doctorate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $51,132 | $54,809 | $57,407 |
| 2 | $54,251 | $57,928 | $60,526 |
| 3 | $57,560 | $61,237 | $63,835 |
| 4 | $61,072 | $64,749 | $67,347 |
| 5 | $64,798 | $68,475 | $71,073 |
| 6 | $68,750 | $72,427 | $75,025 |
| 7 | $72,943 | $76,620 | $79,218 |
| 8 | $77,393 | $81,070 | $83,668 |
| 9 | $82,115 | $85,792 | $88,390 |
| 10 | $89,634 | $93,311 | $95,909 |
| 11 | $95,553 | $99,230 | $101,828 |
| Step | Bachelor’s | Master’s | Doctorate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $49,699 | $52,540 | $53,415 |
| 2 | $54,559 | $57,400 | $58,274 |
| 3 | $59,419 | $62,260 | $63,134 |
| 4 | $64,277 | $67,119 | $67,993 |
| 5 | $69,132 | $71,974 | $72,848 |
| 6 | $73,994 | $76,835 | $77,709 |
| 7 | $78,850 | $81,691 | $82,565 |
| 8 | $83,709 | $86,551 | $87,425 |
| 9 | $88,566 | $91,407 | $92,281 |
| 10 | $93,430 | $96,271 | $97,146 |
| 10 + 15 yrs | $94,086 | $96,927 | $97,801 |
| 10 + 20 yrs | $94,960 | $97,801 | $98,675 |
| 10 + 25 yrs | $96,053 | $98,894 | $99,768 |
| Step | Bachelor’s | Master’s | Doctorate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $49,939 | $54,666 | $55,838 |
| 2 | $53,044 | $57,771 | $58,943 |
| 3 | $56,340 | $61,067 | $62,239 |
| 4 | $59,841 | $64,568 | $65,740 |
| 5 | $63,560 | $68,287 | $69,459 |
| 6 | $67,512 | $72,239 | $73,411 |
| 7 | $71,706 | $76,433 | $77,605 |
| 8 | $76,162 | $80,889 | $82,061 |
| 9 | $80,896 | $85,623 | $86,795 |
| 10 | $85,923 | $90,650 | $91,822 |
| 11 | $93,079 | $97,806 | $98,978 |
| Step | Bachelor’s | Master’s | Doctorate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $50,156 | $53,511 | $54,313 |
| 2 | $52,621 | $55,976 | $56,778 |
| 3 | $55,440 | $58,795 | $59,597 |
| 4 | $59,068 | $62,423 | $63,225 |
| 5 | $63,859 | $67,214 | $68,016 |
| 6 | $68,718 | $72,073 | $72,875 |
| 7 | $73,236 | $76,591 | $77,393 |
| 8 | $78,026 | $81,381 | $82,183 |
| 9 | $82,269 | $85,624 | $86,426 |
| 10 | $86,240 | $89,595 | $90,397 |
| 11 | $89,661 | $93,016 | $93,818 |
| 12 | $94,541 | $97,896 | $98,698 |
| Step | Bachelor’s | Master’s | Doctorate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $47,099 | $51,049 | $51,318 |
| 2 | $49,855 | $53,805 | $54,074 |
| 3 | $53,641 | $57,591 | $57,860 |
| 4 | $57,431 | $61,381 | $61,650 |
| 5 | $61,219 | $65,169 | $65,438 |
| 6 | $65,011 | $68,961 | $69,230 |
| 7 | $68,797 | $72,747 | $73,016 |
| 8 | $72,589 | $76,539 | $76,808 |
| 9 | $74,065 | $78,015 | $78,284 |
| 10 | $80,073 | $84,023 | $84,292 |
| 11 | $86,532 | $90,482 | $90,751 |
| 12 | $94,000 | $97,950 | $98,219 |
| Step | Bachelor’s | Master’s | Doctorate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $47,980 | $52,280 | $54,080 |
| 2 | $50,850 | $55,150 | $56,950 |
| 3 | $54,039 | $58,339 | $60,139 |
| 4 | $57,681 | $61,981 | $63,781 |
| 5 | $61,429 | $65,729 | $67,529 |
| 6 | $65,319 | $69,619 | $71,419 |
| 7 | $69,164 | $73,464 | $75,264 |
| 8 | $73,485 | $77,785 | $79,585 |
| 9 | $78,275 | $82,575 | $84,375 |
| 10 | $87,078 | $91,378 | $93,178 |
| 11 | $90,319 | $94,619 | $96,419 |
| 12 | $91,383 | $95,683 | $97,483 |
Ranked by highest published maximum across degree lanes. Annual base pay, by education level. Years and contract terms can differ; open each schedule before comparing.
Select a column heading to sort. Scroll the table horizontally for more columns. Missing values are marked “Not published”.
8 districts shown
School life, in focus The district picture
Largest districts included in this guide, sorted by published top pay. Starting pay is the bachelor’s entry rate; top pay is the highest published maximum across degree lanes.
Schedule not published
Schedule not published
Schedule not published
| District | Year | BA start | Top pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woonsocket Education Department | 2026-27 | $52,132 | $101,863 |
| Cumberland School Department | 2026-27 | $50,318 | $101,856 |
| Cranston Public Schools | 2026-27 | $51,132 | $101,828 |
| Pawtucket School Department | 2025-26 | $49,699 | $99,768 |
| North Providence School Department | 2026-27 | $49,939 | $98,978 |
| Providence Public Schools | 2026-27 | $50,156 | $98,698 |
| East Providence Schools | 2025-26 | $47,099 | $98,219 |
| West Warwick Public Schools | 2025-26 | $47,980 | $97,483 |
| Warwick Public Schools | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Coventry Public Schools | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| North Kingstown School Department | Not published | Not published | Not published |
Experience & progression
Bachelor’s lane · 5 districts with numeric step data
| District | Step | Annual pay |
|---|---|---|
| Providence Public Schools | 1 | $50,156 |
| Providence Public Schools | 2 | $52,621 |
| Providence Public Schools | 3 | $55,440 |
| Providence Public Schools | 4 | $59,068 |
| Providence Public Schools | 5 | $63,859 |
| Providence Public Schools | 6 | $68,718 |
| Providence Public Schools | 7 | $73,236 |
| Providence Public Schools | 8 | $78,026 |
| Providence Public Schools | 9 | $82,269 |
| Providence Public Schools | 10 | $86,240 |
| Providence Public Schools | 11 | $89,661 |
| Providence Public Schools | 12 | $94,541 |
| Cranston Public Schools | 1 | $51,132 |
| Cranston Public Schools | 2 | $54,251 |
| Cranston Public Schools | 3 | $57,560 |
| Cranston Public Schools | 4 | $61,072 |
| Cranston Public Schools | 5 | $64,798 |
| Cranston Public Schools | 6 | $68,750 |
| Cranston Public Schools | 7 | $72,943 |
| Cranston Public Schools | 8 | $77,393 |
| Cranston Public Schools | 9 | $82,115 |
| Cranston Public Schools | 10 | $89,634 |
| Cranston Public Schools | 11 | $95,553 |
| Pawtucket School Department | 1 | $49,699 |
| Pawtucket School Department | 2 | $54,559 |
| Pawtucket School Department | 3 | $59,419 |
| Pawtucket School Department | 4 | $64,277 |
| Pawtucket School Department | 5 | $69,132 |
| Pawtucket School Department | 6 | $73,994 |
| Pawtucket School Department | 7 | $78,850 |
| Pawtucket School Department | 8 | $83,709 |
| Pawtucket School Department | 9 | $88,566 |
| Pawtucket School Department | 10 | $93,430 |
| Woonsocket Education Department | 1 | $52,132 |
| Woonsocket Education Department | 2 | $53,868 |
| Woonsocket Education Department | 3 | $55,606 |
| Woonsocket Education Department | 4 | $59,088 |
| Woonsocket Education Department | 5 | $62,614 |
| Woonsocket Education Department | 6 | $67,025 |
| Woonsocket Education Department | 7 | $71,434 |
| Woonsocket Education Department | 8 | $78,645 |
| Woonsocket Education Department | 9 | $83,888 |
| Woonsocket Education Department | 10 | $95,647 |
| East Providence Schools | 1 | $47,099 |
| East Providence Schools | 2 | $49,855 |
| East Providence Schools | 3 | $53,641 |
| East Providence Schools | 4 | $57,431 |
| East Providence Schools | 5 | $61,219 |
| East Providence Schools | 6 | $65,011 |
| East Providence Schools | 7 | $68,797 |
| East Providence Schools | 8 | $72,589 |
| East Providence Schools | 9 | $74,065 |
| East Providence Schools | 10 | $80,073 |
| East Providence Schools | 11 | $86,532 |
| East Providence Schools | 12 | $94,000 |
The wider picture
| Measure | Amount | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island average | $85,772 | NEA 2024-25 |
| State minimum | Not published | See state minimum terms below |
| National average | $74,495 | Reporting year not published |
Rhode Island has no statewide minimum teacher salary. RIGL 16-7-29 requires each district to adopt a salary schedule based on years of service, experience and training, with no more than 12 yearly steps, and the dollar amounts are set by local union contracts. NEA average salary and average starting salary are FY 2024-25. Districts are the largest by RIDE October 1, 2025 enrollment (charter schools excluded), taken from RIDE's figures as reprinted in the 2026 Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Factbook. Warwick, Coventry and North Kingstown post no current schedule, so West Warwick (11th) was added. Most Rhode Island contracts pay a single base schedule plus flat degree add-ons, so master's and doctorate figures are base pay plus the published add-on unless a district notes separate lanes. Figures exclude longevity pay unless noted.
Read the state minimum source ↗Match the school year, degree lane and credited experience. The published maximum is not a promise of starting placement. Confirm contract days, supplements and eligibility in each district’s official schedule.
Use the district comparison table on this page to open a district guide and its official salary schedule. Each source is linked with a verification date.
Check the master’s lane in the district’s published schedule. Degree supplements and placement rules vary; a missing value here does not mean there is no additional pay.
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