Minimum wage in Rhode Island in 2026
The minimum wage in Rhode Island is $16.00 an hour in 2026. It rises to $17.00 on January 1, 2027.
Checked against official sources.
Rhode Island minimum wage at a glance
- An hour
- $16.00
- A week, 40 hours
- $640.00
- A year, 2,080 hours
- $33,280
- Tipped cash wage
- $3.89before tips
In effect since . A year means 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, before taxes.
Upcoming raises
- $17.00 an hour, $35,360 a year (set in state law)
Tipped workers
Employers in Rhode Island can pay tipped workers as little as $3.89 an hour in cash and count up to $12.11 an hour in tips toward the $16.00 minimum wage. If tips do not make up the difference, the employer must. The cash wage is fixed at $3.89, so the tip credit grows when the minimum wage rises.
Who gets a different rate
- Workers aged 14 and 15 working 24 hours a week or less. At least 75% of the minimum wage
- Full-time students under 19 at nonprofits. At least 90% of the minimum wage
Rhode Island minimum wage by year
| Year | Rate on January 1 |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $12.25 |
| 2023 | $13.00 |
| 2024 | $14.00 |
| 2025 | $15.00 |
| 2026 | $16.00 |
Rhode Island law sets $16.00 for 2026 and $17.00 for 2027. Nothing is set after that.
Common questions
What is the minimum wage in Rhode Island in 2026?
The minimum wage in Rhode Island is $16.00 an hour in 2026. It rises to $17.00 on January 1, 2027.
How much is minimum wage a year in Rhode Island?
At $16.00 an hour, a full-time worker on 40 hours a week earns $640.00 a week and $33,280 a year before taxes.
What is the minimum wage for tipped workers in Rhode Island?
Employers in Rhode Island can pay tipped workers as little as $3.89 an hour in cash and count up to $12.11 an hour in tips toward the $16.00 minimum wage. If tips do not make up the difference, the employer must. The cash wage is fixed at $3.89, so the tip credit grows when the minimum wage rises.
When does the minimum wage go up in Rhode Island?
It rises to $17.00 on January 1, 2027. Rhode Island law sets $16.00 for 2026 and $17.00 for 2027. Nothing is set after that.
Is there a different minimum wage for some workers in Rhode Island?
Workers aged 14 and 15 working 24 hours a week or less: (at least 75% of the minimum wage). Full-time students under 19 at nonprofits: (at least 90% of the minimum wage).
Minimum wage in other Northeastern states
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the official pages below. Checked .
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-12-3, Minimum wages, Rhode Island General Assembly
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-12-5, Employees receiving gratuities, Rhode Island General Assembly
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-12-3.1, Wages for minors, Rhode Island General Assembly
- State Minimum Wage Laws, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, updated
- Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, updated
- Changes in Basic Minimum Wages in Non-Farm Employment Under State Law, 1968 to 2024, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
Laws change. If your pay is below these rates, contact your state labor department or the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-487-9243.