What apprenticeships are available for construction trades workers in Rhode Island?

In Rhode Island, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Rhode Island Office of Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Rhode Island (2026)

Q: How much do construction trades workers earn in Rhode Island?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), construction trades workers in Rhode Island earned a median annual wage of approximately $57,240. Employment concentration in Rhode Island is roughly 0.60 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for construction trades workers in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island currently employs approximately 2,110 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7.3% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Rhode Island construction laborers earn a median annual wage of $57,240 ($27.52/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,110 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 21.5% above the national median of $47,120 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $57,240 ($27.52/hr)
25th percentile: $46,810 per year
75th percentile: $77,480 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $88,620 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $39,480 per year
Workers employed in Rhode Island: 2,110
Versus national median: 21.5% above the U.S. median of $47,120
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.60 - this occupation is less concentrated in Rhode Island than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Rhode Island employs about 2,110 construction trades workers earning a median $57,240 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most construction trades workers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Rhode Island.

Compare Construction Trades Worker Schools in Rhode Island

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Motoring Technical Training Institute	67.8	Contact school for pricing	$46,174	89%	—	6 mi
2	Columbia-Greene Community College	64.9	Contact school for pricing	$51,620	40%	Yes*	125 mi
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3	New England Institute of Technology	62.3	$37,275 - $48,543	$62,151	59%	Yes*	10 mi
4	York County Community College	56.0	$4,156 - $15,075	$46,153	31%	Yes*	113 mi
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5	Bristol Community College	49.8	$5,832 - $12,168	$48,840	22%	Yes*	17 mi
6	Connecticut State Community College	47.6	Contact school for pricing	$50,130	21%	Yes*	64 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Rhode Island employs approximately 2,110 construction trades workers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $57,240 ¹. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 129,400 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Construction Trades Worker in Rhode Island, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Rhode Island): $57,240 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Rhode Island

How to become a Construction Trades Worker in Rhode Island? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for construction trades workers in Rhode Island.

How long does it take? Most paths into the construction trades worker field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do construction trades workers earn in Rhode Island? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in Rhode Island is $57,240 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $39,480 and experienced professionals can earn $88,620 or more ¹.

How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Rhode Island

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Rhode Island training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Rhode Island that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to construction trades workers in Rhode Island before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Construction Trades Worker Apprenticeship Information in Rhode Island

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Rhode Island’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Rhode Island Office of Apprenticeship ³.

Contact Information:

Office: Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training
Address: 1511 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920-0943
Phone: (401) 462-8536
Email: [email protected]

Construction Trades Worker Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

Construction Laborers Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), construction laborers wages in Rhode Island vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Providence-Warwick	3,240	$59,280	$62,920	$39,760	$90,790

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for construction trades workers in Rhode Island? Rhode Island currently employs approximately 2,110 construction trades workers ¹. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Rhode Island? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Rhode Island. You can also contact the Rhode Island Office of Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do construction trades workers earn in Rhode Island compared to the national average? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in Rhode Island is $57,240, which is $10,510 above the national median of $46,730 according to BLS data ¹.

In Rhode Island

Best Trade Schools in Rhode Island (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Rhode Island

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Rhode Island Office of Apprenticeship: http://www.dlt.ri.gov/apprenticeship/ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)