Tech firms like KVH have experienced strong growth lately, creating more jobs for their local economies -- "welcome news" for state officials looking for ways to increase high-paying jobs in the state.

The average wage in the state is about $37,000, $3,500 below the national average. Only 40 percent of jobs in the state pay more than $40,500, compared with nearly 60 percent in Massachusetts, according to Saul Kaplan, chairman of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation.

Also, although the sale of two of RI's largest tech companies, Providence's GTECH and West Kingston's APC, to foreign companies have raised concerns, both GTECH parent Lottomatica and APC parent Schneider Electric have issued commitments to their local homes.