As of 2025, the current minimum wage in Rhode Island is $15 per hour. Rhode Island’s minimum wage laws set periodic increases each subsequent year up to 2027.
However, there are numerous exceptions to minimum wage laws for minor workers and workers employed in specific sectors.
If you believe that your employer is paying you under the mandatory minimum wage or is not properly paying overtime wages, you can discuss your case with a Providence labor and employment lawyer to explore options for filing an unpaid wages lawsuit.
Rhode Island’s Minimum Wage Laws
RI General Law 28-12-3 sets the current minimum wage for Rhode Island at $15. This is the lowest amount that employers in Rhode Island can pay non-exempt employees for part-time or full-time work.
The minimum wage was raised from $14 to $15 on January 1st, 2025, and adjusts on a yearly basis to account for cost-of-living increases. It will go up to $16 in 2026 and $17 in 2027.
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Exceptions to Minimum Wage Laws
Numerous exceptions to minimum wage laws in Rhode Island exist for specific industries and minor employees. Minimum wages for these employees are set as a percentage value of the current applicable state minimum wage.
Students Under 19 Employed in Non-Profit Organizations
Full-time students who are employees of nonprofit, religious, or educational organizations must receive a minimum hourly pay of $13.50 or 90% of the current applicable minimum.
Minors 14 and 15 Years Old
Minors ages 14 and 15 who work 24 hours or less a week can receive a minimum hourly pay of $11.25 or 75% of the applicable minimum wage. However, minors aged 14 and 15 who work more than 24 hours weekly must receive the full applicable minimum of $15.
Tipped Employees
Employees who earn tips, such as servers or bartenders, must receive a minimum hourly pay of $3.89 per hour. However, if their tips plus regular pay do not exceed the minimum wage of $15 an hour, the employer must cover the remaining difference.
Rhode Island’s Overtime Laws
Rhode Island also has laws governing overtime pay. If any employee works over 40 hours in a week, they must receive 1.5x their regular hourly rate for each extra hour worked.
For example, if you earn $15 an hour and work 40 hours plus eight hours of overtime in a week, your gross pay would be $780—$600 from regular wages and $180 for overtime pay at a rate of $22.5 per hour.
Also, retail employers in Rhode Island are required to pay 1.5x wages to retail employees who work on Sundays or federal holidays.
However, these hours do not count towards calculations for regular overtime pay. Note that the following positions are explicitly exempt from state overtime laws:
- Summer camp employees who are employed for less than six months
- Police offices
- State employees covered under collective bargaining agreements
- Employees who sell vehicles or farming equipment
- Most agricultural workers
- Transportation workers governed by federal hours-of-service regulations
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What Kind of Records of Payment and Hours Do Employers Have to Keep?
All employers must keep an accurate daily record of hours worked for each employee, including clock-in and clock-out times each day. Employers must keep copies of these records and payroll records for at least three years.
Similarly, employers must provide employees with pay stubs each pay period showing hours worked, pay earned, and deductions/taxes.
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What Can I Do If My Employer Is Not Paying Me Properly?
Employers may engage in several types of misconduct to skirt or violate minimum wage laws in Rhode Island:
- Paying below the required rate
- Not recording hours worked
- Requiring unpaid work (e.g., prep time)
- Making illegal deductions from paychecks
- Altering time sheets to show fewer hours worked
- Misclassifying employees as exempt
- Requiring unpaid overtime
If you suspect that your employer is not paying you appropriately, you can discuss your case with a labor and employment lawyer.
An attorney can analyze your case in the context of Rhode Island’s minimum wage laws to find violations. If your employer is violating state laws, you could file a lawsuit against them for financial compensation, including:
- Unpaid wages and back pay
- Attorney’s fees
- Court costs and interest
Rhode Island’s Payment of Wages Act can require employers to pay triple damages for unpaid wage violations. So if your employer owes you $5,000 in unpaid wages, you could potentially receive up to $15,000 in a lawsuit.
Reporting Unpaid Wages in Rhode Island
In addition to talking to an attorney, you can report unpaid wages in Rhode Island by filing a complaint with the state Department of Labor and Training (DLT).
Once the DLT receives your complaint, they can open an investigation into your employer. If violations are found, they could face additional civil judgment and even criminal penalties for wage theft.
Contact Our Labor and Employment Lawyers Today
Many employers violate minimum wage laws in Rhode Island because they believe they won’t face consequences. The team at Duddy, Goodwin & Pollard can hold employers accountable for these violations and help you recover your hard-earned work income.
Contact us today for a free case consultation with an experienced wage dispute attorney.
Call or text (860) 999-9394 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form