Rhode Island Minimum Wage 2027: $17.00 an Hour
Short answer: Rhode Island's minimum wage rises from $16.00 to $17.00 an hour in 2027 (effective January 1, 2027). A full-time worker earns about $35,360 a year before taxes.
What changes on January 1, 2027
Rhode Island sets the rate directly in statute. R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-12-3 lists $16.00 from January 1, 2026 and $17.00 from January 1, 2027.
What to know in Rhode Island
- A $1.00 increase is the second-largest dollar jump among these states, after Michigan's $1.27.
- Because the rate is written into law rather than indexed, no separate inflation announcement is needed for 2027.
What $17.00 an hour pays
| Schedule | At $16.00 (2026) | At $17.00 (2027) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per hour | $16.00 | $17.00 | +$1.00 |
| Per 40-hour week | $640.00 | $680.00 | +$40.00 |
| Per two-week paycheck (80 hours) | $1,280.00 | $1,360.00 | +$80.00 |
| Per month (full-time ÷ 12) | $2,773.33 | $2,946.67 | +$173.33 |
| Per year, full-time | $33,280 | $35,360 | +$2,080 |
| Per year, part-time (20 h/week) | $16,640 | $17,680 | +$1,040 |
Use the minimum wage pay calculator to change the hours or weeks.
Overtime at the Rhode Island minimum wage and the federal tax deduction
Suppose a nonexempt worker earning $17.00 an hour works 6 hours of overtime a week for 45 weeks, paid at time-and-a-half. That overtime pay is $17.00 × 1.5 × 6 × 45 = $6,885. Only the premium over the regular rate, $17.00 × 0.5 × 6 × 45 = $2,295, can be deducted under the federal no-tax-on-overtime rules (up to $12,500, or $25,000 on a joint return). Try your own numbers in the overtime calculator.
Remember that some states add their own overtime rules beyond the federal 40-hour week, but only overtime required by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act counts toward the federal deduction. Read the details in Qualified Overtime and the FLSA.
How Rhode Island compares
Closest 2027 rates on this site:
- California: $17.40 (+$0.40 higher)
- Connecticut: $17.48 (+$0.48 higher)
- New Jersey: $16.48 (−$0.52 lower)
See every state in 2027 minimum wage by state or the ranking of states raising wages on January 1.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Rhode Island in 2027?
Rhode Island's minimum wage for most adult workers is $17.00 per hour in 2027, up from $16.00 in 2026. The figure comes from the state source linked below.
How much more will a full-time Rhode Island worker earn at $17.00?
The raise is $1.00 an hour (6.3%). For a full-time worker at 2,080 hours a year, that is $2,080 more per year before taxes, from $33,280 to $35,360.
How does Rhode Island rank among 2027 minimum wages?
Among the 15 state rates with a 2027 rate on this site, Rhode Island ranks number 4 (1 is highest). The highest is Washington at $17.73.
Where can I confirm Rhode Island's rate?
Use the official source: R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-12-3 (https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE28/28-12/28-12-3.htm). For payroll or a wage dispute, contact the state labor department directly.
Does the federal minimum wage still apply in Rhode Island?
Yes. The federal minimum is $7.25 an hour under the Fair Labor Standards Act, but where state law is higher, workers covered by both get the higher state rate.
Sources and citations
Every dollar figure on this page was checked against the official pages below on November 14, 2026. If an agency updates its guidance, the agency page controls.