Current minimum wage in Rhode Island
Rhode Island's minimum wage rose to $16.00 an hour on January 1, 2026 and is scheduled to reach $17.00 on January 1, 2027 under a 2025 law. Tipped workers can be paid $3.89 an hour in cash as long as tips bring them to the full minimum.
The rate rose from $15.00 (effective January 1, 2025) to $16.00 on January 1, 2026, an increase of $1.00 an hour or $2,080 a year for a full-time worker.
Next scheduled change
Scheduled to rise to $17.00 on January 1, 2027 under a 2025 state law.
Tipped minimum wage
Employers may pay tipped employees a cash wage of $3.89 an hour and count tips toward the rest, as long as total pay reaches $16.00 an hour. The federal tipped cash wage is $2.13. Employers may pay tipped workers $3.89 an hour in cash as long as tips bring total pay to at least $16.00.
What minimum wage pays in Rhode Island
| Hours per week | Weekly pay | Yearly pay |
|---|---|---|
| 20 hours | $320.00 | $16,640 |
| 25 hours | $400.00 | $20,800 |
| 30 hours | $480.00 | $24,960 |
| 35 hours | $560.00 | $29,120 |
| 40 hours | $640.00 | $33,280 |
After federal and Rhode Island taxes, a full-time minimum wage worker who files single keeps about $27,923 a year, or $1,074 per biweekly check. Run your own numbers with the Rhode Island paycheck calculator or see the full breakdown for $16 an hour.
Overtime rules
Follows the federal 40-hour weekly overtime rule.
City and county minimum wages
No local minimum wages.
How Rhode Island compares
Rhode Island ranks #6 of 51 for its minimum wage, tied with 1 other state at the same rate. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Rhode Island in 2026?
The Rhode Island minimum wage is $16.00 an hour as of January 1, 2026.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Rhode Island?
Employers in Rhode Island may pay tipped workers a cash wage of $3.89 an hour, as long as tips bring total pay to at least $16.00. Employers may pay tipped workers $3.89 an hour in cash as long as tips bring total pay to at least $16.00.
When does the Rhode Island minimum wage go up next?
Scheduled to rise to $17.00 on January 1, 2027 under a 2025 state law.
How much is minimum wage in Rhode Island per year?
At $16.00 an hour, a 40-hour week pays $640 and a full year pays $33,280 before taxes. A single filer keeps about $27,923 after federal and Rhode Island taxes.
How does overtime work in Rhode Island?
Follows the federal 40-hour weekly overtime rule.