Rhode Island State Minimum Wage

Author: Jason Coles

Updated On:

The Rhode Island state minimum wage increased by 75 cents in January 2023, from $12.25 per hour in 2022 to $13.00 per hour in 2023. This represents a 6.1% increase from 2022 to 2023.

It is very important for business owners and employees 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 individual state has its own 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 $13.00 per hour in 2023.

January 1, 2023, saw the Rhode Island state minimum wage increase by 75 cents, from $12.25 per hour to $13.00. 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: $104.00 (based on an 8-hour working day).
  • Weekly Minimum Wage: $520.00 (based on a 40-hour week).
  • Yearly Minimum Wage: $27,040.00 (based on being paid 52 weeks per year).

You can view and download the official Rhode Island state minimum wage labor law poster for 2022-2023 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.

The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training enforces the Rhode Island state minimum wage of $13.00 per hour. Should you have any concerns or questions about the Rhode Island minimum wage in 2023 and the laws, rules, and regulations, feel free to contact them via their website.

Rhode Island Minimum Wage History

The table below provides 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.

StateWage$ Wage Increase% Increase
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2023$13.00$0.756.1%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2022$12.25$0.756.5%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2021$11.50$00%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2020$11.50$1.009.5%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2020 (before Oct 1)$10.50$00%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2019$10.50$0.403.9%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2018$10.10$0.505.2%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2017$9.60$0.606.7%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2016$9.00$00%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2015$9.00$1.0012.5%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2014$8.00$0.253.2%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2013$7.75$0.354.7%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2012$7.40$00%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2011$7.40$00%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2010$7.40$00%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2009$7.40$00%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2008$7.40$00%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2007$7.40$0.304.2%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2006$7.10$0.355.18%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2005$6.75$00%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2004$6.75$0.609.7%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2003$6.15$00%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2002$6.15$00%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2001$6.15$00%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2000$6.15$0.508.8%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 1999$5.65$0.509.7%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 1998$5.15$00%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 1997$5.15$0.408.4%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 1996$4.75$0.306.4%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 1995$4.45$00%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 1994$4.45$00%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 1993$4.45$00%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 1992$4.45$00%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 1991$4.45$0.204.7%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 1999$4.25$00%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 1989$4.25$0.256.25%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 1988$4.00$0.359.5%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 1987$3.65$0.102.81%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 1986$3.55$0.206%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 1985$3.35$00%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 1984$3.35$00%
Rhode Island Minimum Wage 1983$3.35$00%

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.

Below is a graphic displaying the Rhode Island minimum wage exemptions:

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 $11.05 per hour in 2023.

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 to be paid the Rhode Island minimum wage rate of $13.00 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 2023 Rhode Island minimum wage of $13.00 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 $9.11 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 $19.50 per hour, 1.5 times the minimum wage of $13.00 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.”
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Jason Coles

Jason Coles is the Founder of Foreign USA and its Chief Content Writer and Editor. Recognized as a prolific business plan writer by many prominent immigration attorneys in the U.S., Jason has written over 1,200 business plans over the past 16+ years for start-ups looking to establish and expand their footprint in the United States.