Minimum wage by state · Rhode Island
Minimum Wage in Rhode Island (2026)
In 2026, the minimum wage in Rhode Island is $16 an hour — about $33,280 a year full-time, and tied for the 7th-highest of the 51 states and DC. Here's what that wage works out to in real terms and how it stacks up against the federal floor and the highest-paying state.
- Rhode Island minimum wage $16/hr effective 2026 rate
- Full-time a year $33,280 40 hrs/wk, 52 wks
- vs federal $7.25 +$8.75 above federal $7.25
Minimum wage in Rhode Island
The 2026 minimum wage in Rhode Island is $16 an hour. That is $8.75 (about 121%) above the federal minimum of $7.25. Because the effective minimum is always the higher of the state or federal rate, workers here are entitled to the state's $16 — well clear of the $7.25 federal floor.
$16 an hour, in real terms
An hourly figure is abstract until you scale it up. Here is what $16 an hour becomes over a week and a full year of full-time work:
Full-time at $16 an hour — 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year — works out to about $33,280 a year before taxes. That is roughly $18,200 more than the $15,080 a full-time job at the $7.25 federal minimum would pay, and about $4,992 less than the $38,272 earned at District of Columbia's nation-leading $18.4. To see what actually lands in a paycheck after tax, run the numbers with the take-home pay calculator.
How Rhode Island compares
Among all 51 states and DC, Rhode Island's $16 is tied for the 7th-highest of the 51 states and DC. The federal minimum is $7.25, and the highest anywhere is District of Columbia at $18.4, about $2.40 above Rhode Island. Rhode Island is one of the 31 states and DC that pay above the federal floor. For the full picture — every state ranked, the highest and lowest, and how the map has shifted — see minimum wage by state. You can also compare any two states with the minimum wage by state calculator.
Minimum wage in Rhode Island — FAQ
What is the minimum wage in Rhode Island in 2026?
The 2026 minimum wage in Rhode Island is $16 per hour. That is $8.75 (about 121%) above the federal minimum of $7.25. Because the effective minimum is always the higher of the state or federal rate, no employer covered by the law may pay less.
How much is minimum wage a year in Rhode Island?
At $16 an hour, full-time work (40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year) comes to about $33,280 a year before taxes, roughly $18,200 more than the $15,080 a full-time federal-minimum job pays. Use the take-home pay calculator to see what lands in your pocket after tax.
Is Rhode Island's minimum wage above the federal minimum?
Yes. At $16, Rhode Island sits $8.75 (about 121%) above the $7.25 federal minimum. It is one of the 31 states and DC that pay above the federal floor.
How does Rhode Island's minimum wage rank nationally?
Among all 51 states and DC, Rhode Island's $16 is tied for the 7th-highest of the 51 states and DC. The highest is District of Columbia at $18.4; the federal floor is $7.25.
Data: U.S. Department of Labor, via APIVerve. Our tables, charts and text are licensed CC BY 4.0: reuse them freely, including commercially, as long as you credit us. Cite as: Digest Your Finances, “Minimum Wage by State”, https://digestyourfinances.com/studies/minimum-wage-by-state/rhode-island/ — based on U.S. Department of Labor. CC BY 4.0.
