In 2024, the Rhode Island minimum wage increased in January by $1.00, rising to $14.00 per hour.
Business owners and employees need to familiarize themselves with the minimum wage in the United States. Unlike most other countries, there are different minimum wage laws and rates across all 50 US states.
The minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily, or monthly wage that businesses may legally pay to employees or workers.
Each state has its minimum wage, whether it has been generated via the Consumer Price Index, is determined by what each state’s legislature deems reasonable for its employees, or whether it just defaults to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
Did the Rhode Island Minimum Wage Go Up?
The graphic below highlights the Rhode Island minimum wage over the past several years. The minimum wage did not go up and remains at $14.00 per hour in 2024.
January 1, 2024, saw the Rhode Island state minimum wage increase by $1.00, from $13.00 per hour to $14.00.
Typically, states include scheduled minimum wage increases when passing such legislation but Rhode Island’s minimum wage law does not include any future scheduled increases. Recently, states have generally scheduled a few years of increases, with future rates tied to the Consumer Price Index.
If you are a full-time worker on Rhode Island state minimum wage, your earnings could be as follows:
- Daily Minimum Wage: $112.00 (based on an 8-hour working day).
- Weekly Minimum Wage: $560.00 (based on a 40-hour week).
- Yearly Minimum Wage: $ 29,120.00 (based on being paid 2080 hours per year).
You can view and download the official Rhode Island state minimum wage labor law poster for 2024 here at no charge. Employers must display a poster outlining the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), ensuring that accurate employee time and pay records are kept.
Rhode Island Minimum Wage History
The table below shows the current rate and history of Rhode Island’s minimum wage over the past 40+ years since 1983.
You can see when there were increases in the minimum wage, how much they were, and what percentage increase it represents each year.
| Year | Minimum Wage | Increase ($) | Increase (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $14.00 | $1.00 | 7.7% |
| 2023 | $13.00 | $0.75 | 6.1% |
| 2022 | $12.25 | $0.75 | 6.5% |
| 2021 | $11.50 | $0 | 0% |
| 2020 | $11.50 | $1.00 | 9.5% |
| 2019 | $10.50 | $0 | 0% |
| 2018 | $10.50 | $0.40 | 3.9% |
| 2017 | $10.10 | $0.50 | 5.2% |
| 2016 | $9.60 | $0.60 | 6.7% |
| 2015 | $9.00 | $0 | 0% |
| 2014 | $9.00 | $1.00 | 12.5% |
| 2013 | $8.00 | $0.25 | 3.2% |
| 2012 | $7.75 | $0.35 | 4.7% |
| 2011 | $7.40 | $0 | 0% |
| 2010 | $7.40 | $0 | 0% |
| 2009 | $7.40 | $0 | 0% |
| 2008 | $7.40 | $0 | 0% |
| 2007 | $7.40 | $0 | 0% |
| 2006 | $7.40 | $0.30 | 4.2% |
| 2005 | $7.10 | $0.35 | 5.18% |
| 2004 | $6.75 | $0 | 0% |
| 2003 | $6.75 | $0.60 | 9.7% |
| 2002 | $6.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2001 | $6.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2000 | $6.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 1999 | $6.15 | $0.50 | 8.8% |
| 1998 | $5.65 | $0.50 | 9.7% |
| 1997 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 1996 | $5.15 | $0.40 | 8.4% |
| 1995 | $4.75 | $0.30 | 6.4% |
| 1994 | $4.45 | $0 | 0% |
| 1993 | $4.45 | $0 | 0% |
| 1992 | $4.45 | $0 | 0% |
| 1991 | $4.45 | $0 | 0% |
| 1990 | $4.45 | $0.20 | 4.7% |
| 1989 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 1988 | $4.25 | $0.25 | 6.25% |
| 1987 | $4.00 | $0.35 | 9.5% |
| 1986 | $3.65 | $0.10 | 2.81% |
| 1985 | $3.55 | $0.20 | 6% |
| 1984 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1983 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
Rhode Island Minimum Wage Exemptions
In addition to the regular minimum wage rate, there are a few Rhode Island state minimum wage exemptions that typically depend on your age or employment situation.
Below are the various minimum wage exemptions with some situational examples.
Rhode Island Student Minimum Wage
The minimum wage for student employees in Rhode Island is 85% of the Rhode Island state minimum wage, making their hourly pay $11.90 per hour in 2024.
This hourly rate is for any hours worked up to 20 hours per week. As a student employee, once you surpass 20 hours per week, you will be eligible for the Rhode Island minimum wage rate of $14.00 per hour.
Being a student can be financially challenging, leading many students to pick up part-time jobs to make extra money while studying. Despite a student minimum wage rate, many Rhode Island employers will not necessarily follow it and pay you equal to or more than the statewide minimum wage.
Many work-study programs are available at universities, which is a route many students go down. Still, coffee shop, cafe, bar, and restaurant jobs are commonly taken by students as they can work them into their class schedule.
Rhode Island Under 20 Minimum Wage
If you are under 20 years old in Rhode Island, federal law allows your employer to pay you as little as $4.25 per hour for your first 90 days of employment.
Once the 90-day period is over, you will be eligible to be paid the 2024 Rhode Island minimum wage of $14.00 per hour or potentially even more.
Fortunately for young workers, this is 90 calendar days and not 90 working days; therefore, it can be completed relatively quickly and within about three months.
Rhode Island Tipped Minimum Wage
If you are a tipped employee in Rhode Island (someone who receives regular tips as a part of their job) then you are eligible to be paid a minimum wage of $3.89 per hour, with a tip credit of $10.11 per hour, ensuring that you reach the statewide minimum wage regardless if you make enough hourly tips.
Rhode Island Overtime Minimum Wage
Once you work over 40 hours a week, you are eligible to be paid an overtime rate of 1.5 times your hourly wage for every hour you work past 40.
So, the overtime Rhode Island state minimum wage is $21.00 per hour, 1.5 times the minimum wage of $14.00 per hour.
Latest News on the Rhode Island Minimum Wage
- Quote from State Rep. David Bennett – “Putting more money in the pockets of those with the lowest wages helps their families and the economy overall, because people at that end of the wage spectrum pump that money right back into the local economy, buying necessities. It also means less demand for public assistance. A stronger minimum wage will mean a stronger economy for Rhode Island.”
- Quote from Gov. Gina M. Raimondo – “Nobody should work full-time and live in poverty. Over the past few years, we’ve turned our economy around by investing in our workers. From new job training programs to investments in education, we’re working to ensure that every Rhode Islander has a good, family-supporting job. I’m proud that we’ve increased the minimum wage four times since I took office, and I look forward to working with the General Assembly to continue building on that progress.”
