Background The biological mechanisms driving disease chronicity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are largely unidentified. Therefore, we aimed to determine genetic risk factors for RA. Methods In this case–control study, which includes samples from 499 patients and 507 healthy controls, six single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in interleukin‐2 receptor subunit alpha ( IL2RA ) and IL2RB were selected. Genotyping was performed using the Agena MassARRAY platform, and the statistical analyses were performed using the chi‐squared and Fisher's exact tests, genetic model analysis, and haplotype analysis. Result In the allele model, using the chi‐squared test, the result showed that rs791588 in IL2RA was associated with a decreased RA risk (odds ratios [OR] = 0.74, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 0.62–0.89, p = 0.0014) after adjusting for age and gender. In the genetic model, logistic regression analyses revealed that rs791588 was associated with a decreased risk of RA under the codominant model, dominant model, recessive model, and log‐additive model. Stratification analysis revealed that two SNPs (rs791588 and rs2281089) were significantly associated with a reduced RA risk in an allele and genetic model after stratification by gender or age ( p < 0.05). In addition, the haplotypes “C rs12569923 G rs791588 ” and “C rs12569923 T rs791588 ” of IL2RA was associated with an increased risk of RA adjusted by age and gender (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.12–1.64, p = 0.0016; OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.03–1.48, p = 0.021). Conclusion This finding indicates that the inherited altered genetic constitution at IL2RA may predispose to a less destructive course of RA.