Minimum Wage
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-12-3 — $16.00 an hour in 2026 and $17.00 from January 1, 2027
| Starting | Minimum wage |
|---|---|
| StartingJanuary 1, 2025 | Minimum wage$15.00 per hour |
| StartingJanuary 1, 2026 | Minimum wage$16.00 per hour |
| StartingJanuary 1, 2027 | Minimum wage$17.00 per hour |
An employer of tipped workers in restaurants, hotels and similar businesses may count tips toward the minimum, but only with substantial evidence that the tips make up the difference, and the cash wage has its own floor.
Some jobs are outside the minimum wage chapter. A particular job is a question for a licensed Rhode Island attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-12-3 — Minimum wages
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-12-5 — Employees receiving gratuities
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Rhode Island attorney.