Employment & Worker Protection · Rhode Island
Rhode Island Minimum Wage
R.I. Gen. Laws 28-12-3 - enacted in Rhode Island.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2022
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 48/100
- Rhode Island strictness
The bottom line
Rhode Island Minimum Wage is an enacted law in Rhode Island, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2025-01-01
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 48/100
- Rhode Island strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Rhode Island legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: Rhode Island Minimum Wage
Rhode Island Minimum Wage (R.I. Gen. Laws 28-12-3) is an enacted law in Rhode Island under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2022-07-01 and becomes effective on 2025-01-01. Rhode Island currently reports 3 tracked regulations with 3 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 48/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places Rhode Island within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in R.I. Gen. Laws 28-12-3 itself.
Applicability under Rhode Island Minimum Wage: All RI employers. Penalty exposure is documented as: Dept of Labor and Training enforcement. Back wages. Notable exemptions: Agricultural workers, outside salespeople..
Summary
Rhode Island minimum wage $15.00/hr (2025). Tipped workers: $3.89/hr.
Key Requirements
$15.00/hr (2025). Tipped: $3.89/hr + tips to $15.00.
Penalties
Dept of Labor and Training enforcement. Back wages.
Applicability
All RI employers.
Exemptions
Agricultural workers, outside salespeople.
Official Source
https://dlt.ri.gov/employers/wage-and-hour/minimum-wageHow Rhode Island compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - Rhode Island ranks #17 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. Rhode Island is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was Rhode Island Minimum Wage enacted?
Rhode Island Minimum Wage was enacted on 2022-07-01 and became effective on 2025-01-01. It was introduced as R.I. Gen. Laws 28-12-3.
What are the penalties for violating Rhode Island Minimum Wage?
Dept of Labor and Training enforcement. Back wages. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Rhode Island Minimum Wage apply to small businesses?
All RI employers. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does Rhode Island compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
Rhode Island has a regulatory strictness score of 48/100, based on 3 enacted regulations out of 3 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of Rhode Island Minimum Wage?
The official text of Rhode Island Minimum Wage (R.I. Gen. Laws 28-12-3) is available from the Rhode Island legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Plain-language guides to help you understand the broader regulatory landscape.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More Rhode Island Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- Rhode Island Minimum Wage is enacted in Rhode Island, effective 2025-01-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; Rhode Island ranks #17 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation Rhode Island tracks across all five policy areas. Rhode Island profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official Rhode Island source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.