RN Job Market in Rhode Island & New England: Key Trends

Job MarketRN

Nov 6

Rhode Island and the broader New England region are experiencing a significant shortage of registered nurses (RNs). State projections estimate thousands of openings in coming years – e.g. RI forecasts ~7,400 RN openings from 2022–2032eohhs.ri.gov. In fact, one analysis notes Rhode Island will need over 1,000 new RNs by 2025research.com. Demand is highest in acute care: hospitals remain the largest RN employers with ongoing vacancy pressures (RI DLT projects ~4,600 hospital RN openings by 2032eohhs.ri.gov). Industry reports also highlight growing demand in other settings as the population ages and care shifts: for example, home health and outpatient services are expanding rapidly, increasing RN hiring needs. In sum, hospitals, long-term care, home care and clinics all report tight RN staffing and high vacancy rates (mirroring national nursing shortage trendseohhs.ri.gov research.com).

Hospitals: Continue to hire in large numbers. RI RNs earn about $82K avg according to BLS, with hospital roles often paying even moreresearch.com. State data show registered nurses top the charts for job openings in healthcareeohhs.ri.gov eohhs.ri.gov.
Skilled Nursing/Long-Term Care: These facilities face chronic understaffing. RN pay is generally lower here (around $75K average in RIresearch.com), but demand remains high due to aging demographics. Many nursing homes have difficulty filling RN shifts, especially nights and weekends.
Home Health: Demand is rising quickly as seniors seek in-home care. Home health agencies offer flexible schedules, which appeals to some RNs, though wages vary widely by agency and regionresearch.com. Job postings for home care RNs have grown as providers meet this need.
Outpatient/Ambulatory: Expanding outpatient clinics (e.g. dialysis, imaging, specialty centers) are hiring more RNs. These roles often offer more regular hours and predictable schedules, though typically slightly lower pay than hospital jobsresearch.com. With healthcare shifting toward outpatient care, nurse staffing needs in clinics continue climbing.

Salary Ranges: RI and New England RN Roles

RN salaries in New England are generally above national averages. In Rhode Island, BLS data show a mean RN wage of about $45.71/hr (≈$95,000/year)bls.gov. Wage distribution is broad: the entry-level (bottom 10th percentile) RN in RI earns roughly $72K/year, while the highest-earning RNs (top 10%) exceed $128Kallnursingschools.com. Across New England, state medians (2023 BLS) include roughly $109K in MAbls.gov, $102K in CTbls.gov, $89K in NHbls.gov, $84K in MEbls.gov, and $88K in VTbls.gov. In general:

Entry-Level RNs: New graduate RNs typically start in the $60–75K range. For example, RI’s 10th-percentile RN is about $72Kallnursingschools.com. Entry pay may be higher in Massachusetts/Connecticut (often mid-$60Ks) given their higher medians.
Experienced RNs: With several years’ experience, many RNs earn $90–110K. The median RN in RI is ~$100Kallnursingschools.com; in MA/CT it’s about $100–105Kallnursingschools.comallnursingschools.com. These figures include typical hospital and clinic positions.
Specialty RNs: Nurses in high-skill areas (ICU, OR, ER, etc.) often exceed the median. For example, medical–surgical RNs in RI average ~$107Ksalary.com. Other specialties (ICU, ER, OR) commonly pay $80K–105K depending on locale and overtime. Senior specialty nurses (charge or advanced practice) can top $120K+.

Overall, expect total RN compensation to range roughly $60K (new grads) up to $120–130K+ (seasoned specialists) in New Englandallnursingschools.com salary.com. Urban metro areas with costlier living tend to pay at the higher end (Boston-area RNs, for instance, earn above $100K on average).

Geographic Hotspots

RN demand is strong statewide, but certain regions have especially acute needs (and higher pay). In Rhode Island, the Providence/Warwick area is a major hub for hospital and clinic hiring. Adjacent Connecticut metros (like Norwich–New London) and the Providence metro both report some of the highest RN wage rates in the statetrustedhealth.com. Similarly, Massachusetts sees heavy demand in Greater Boston, Worcester, and Springfield areas; neighboring Connecticut has hotspots around Hartford and the southern coast. Rural areas (northern New England) also face shortages: New Hampshire’s seacoast region and Maine’s southern coastal counties often post RN job openings, reflecting local hospital needs and fewer local graduates. (All New England states now participate in the Nurse Licensure Compactoonl.org, allowing RNs to cross state lines easily; this flexibility helps fill vacancies in high-need areas.)

Shift & Schedule Trends

Employers are adjusting schedules to attract staff. Shift Differentials: Nights, weekends and holidays are in highest demand. Many hospitals now offer premium pay for these shifts – weekend RN shifts, for example, frequently pay higher than weekday shiftscascadestaff.com. A staffing agency report notes that “weekend shifts usually pay more than weekday shifts” due to higher demand and pay differentialscascadestaff.com. Thus, RNs working evenings, overnights or weekends often earn 10–20% more per hour than the base rate.

Day vs. Night: Despite incentives, night shift vacancies remain higher than day shifts in many units. Hospitals and nursing homes often cite more openings for overnight nurses. To compensate, shift differentials (commonly $3–$5 extra per hour) are now standard.
Flexible Schedules: In home health and agency nursing, part-time and flexible schedules are increasingly offered. Many RNs (especially parents and students) pick up weekend-only or per-diem slots for higher pay.
Full-Time Trends: Twelve-hour shifts remain common in hospitals; however, there is a push toward 8- and 10-hour days in some outpatient settings for work-life balance. Overall, scheduling remains a negotiable issue: hiring managers report that offering a mix of day, evening and weekend options can help fill critical roles.

Throughout all settings, RN burnout and turnover are concerns (e.g. MA surveys show many RNs leaving bedside roles), but the current market favors job seekers. Hospitals and other employers must compete on wages, schedules and bonuses to attract nurses. For example, sign-on bonuses ($5K–$15K) and tuition repayment are widely used in Northeast hospitals. Candidates should be aware that day shifts still tend to be most competitive, while willing night/weekend workers can command premium paycascadestaff.com.

In summary, Rhode Island and New England continue to need large numbers of RNs. Hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and home care agencies are all actively hiring. Salaries are strong (especially in MA/CT), and niche skills can command six-figure pay. Metro areas see the most openings, but even rural facilities report critical shortages. RNs entering the field will find many opportunities – and hiring managers should expect to offer competitive pay and flexible scheduling to meet this high demand.

Sources: Current labor reports and industry analyses. Each source provides up-to-date data on RN projections, salaries, and employment by setting in Rhode Island/New England.

Citations

Chapter 10 - Health Care System Planning Foundational Report - December 2024

https://eohhs.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur226/files/2025-02/Chapter%2010%20-%20Health%20Care%20System%20Planning%20Foundational%20Report%20-%20December%202024.pdf

How to Become a Nurse in Rhode Island for 2025 | Research.com

https://research.com/careers/how-to-become-a-nurse-in-rhode-island

Chapter 10 - Health Care System Planning Foundational Report - December 2024

https://eohhs.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur226/files/2025-02/Chapter%2010%20-%20Health%20Care%20System%20Planning%20Foundational%20Report%20-%20December%202024.pdf

How to Become a Nurse in Rhode Island for 2025 | Research.com

https://research.com/careers/how-to-become-a-nurse-in-rhode-island

How to Become a Nurse in Rhode Island for 2025 | Research.com

https://research.com/careers/how-to-become-a-nurse-in-rhode-island

How to Become a Nurse in Rhode Island for 2025 | Research.com