Under Rhode Island overtime laws you earn after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate, and no daily overtime in Rhode Island — only the weekly total counts. The minimum wage is $16.00. This guide gives the exact rhode island overtime laws rule with the date we verified it, the statute, and what to do next.
Rules verified against Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Labor Standards on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Labor Standards or an attorney before you rely on it.
Rhode Island Overtime Laws at a Glance
| Minimum wage | $16.00 |
| Weekly overtime | After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate |
| Daily overtime | No daily overtime in Rhode Island — only the weekly total counts |
| Rate | 1.5 times the regular rate (double time only where the row says so) |
| State overtime statute | Yes |
In This Rhode Island Overtime Laws Guide:
Rhode Island Overtime Laws: The Rules
After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. No daily overtime in Rhode Island — only the weekly total counts. The overtime rate is one and a half times your regular rate of pay — the regular rate includes non-discretionary bonuses and shift differentials, not just the base wage. Separate laws require time and a half on Sundays and holidays in retail and some other businesses.
How to Calculate Overtime Under Rhode Island Overtime Laws
Take your total pay for the week, divide by the hours you worked to get the regular rate, and multiply the overtime hours by 1.5 times that rate. A worker paid $16.00 an hour who works 48 hours in a 40-hour state is owed 8 hours at time and a half.
Salary does not mean exempt: a salaried worker below the exemption tests still gets overtime on the hours over the threshold.
Rhode Island Overtime Laws at a Glance
Rules verified against Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Labor Standards on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Labor Standards or an attorney before you rely on it. The statute row is where to check it yourself.
| Minimum wage | $16.00 |
| Weekly overtime | After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate |
| Daily overtime | No daily overtime in Rhode Island — only the weekly total counts |
| Rate | 1.5 times the regular rate (double time only where the row says so) |
| State overtime statute | Yes |
Who Is Exempt From Rhode Island Overtime Laws
Most claimants who are exempt from Rhode Island overtime are salaried executives, administrators, professionals and outside salespeople. State law also exempts certain police, firefighters, rescue workers, some car and farm-equipment salespeople, and agricultural workers. To be exempt as an executive, administrator or professional, a worker generally must pass a duties test and be paid a fixed salary at or above the federal minimum.
Rhode Island law does not take away overtime from anyone federal law entitles to it.
Daily Overtime and Rhode Island Overtime Laws
Rhode Island has no daily overtime rule: a 12-hour day in a 36-hour week earns no premium, because only the weekly total counts. Private employers may not substitute comp time for overtime pay; that option exists only for public employers.
Is Overtime Taxed Differently Under Rhode Island Overtime Laws?
No — overtime is ordinary wages and is taxed at the same income-tax rates as the rest of your pay; it can push more of your pay into a higher withholding bracket on one check, but the annual tax rate does not change.
Under the federal rule that Rhode Island follows, overtime for tipped workers is generally figured from the full minimum wage, not the lower cash wage, minus the same tip credit used for regular hours. Confirm the details with the Department of Labor and Training.
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How to Claim Unpaid Overtime Under Rhode Island Overtime Laws
A Rhode Island worker can report unpaid overtime to the Labor Standards Unit of the Department of Labor and Training using its Non-Payment of Wages Complaint Form. You can email the form to [email protected] or mail it, along with copies of pay stubs and the dates you worked.
You may also file with the federal Wage and Hour Division, and you should confirm with the state agency how far back your claim can reach.
Other Rhode Island Overtime Laws Rules to Know
Rhode Island generally requires retail employers to pay time and a half for work on Sundays and certain holidays. In a week with that premium pay, the Sunday or holiday hours are left out when counting toward weekly overtime. Workers generally cannot be penalized for refusing Sunday or holiday work. The Labor Standards Unit takes complaints about missed Sunday or holiday premium pay.
Think you are owed overtime? The wage-claim agency takes the complaint for free.
Contact Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Labor Standards
Rhode Island — the bottom line
- Rhode island overtime laws start the premium after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate — count the week, not the day.
- Under rhode island overtime laws the rate is 1.5 times the regular rate, and the regular rate includes your bonuses and differentials.
- Rhode island overtime laws are enforced by a free wage claim — you do not need a lawyer to recover unpaid overtime.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I get overtime under Rhode Island overtime laws?
After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. No daily overtime in Rhode Island — only the weekly total counts.
What is the overtime rate in Rhode Island?
One and a half times your regular rate of pay, which includes non-discretionary bonuses and shift pay.
Does Rhode Island have daily overtime?
No daily overtime in rhode island — only the weekly total counts.
Can my employer give comp time instead of overtime pay in Rhode Island?
Not in the private sector — comp time in place of overtime pay is allowed only for government employers.
How do I claim unpaid overtime in Rhode Island?
A Rhode Island worker can report unpaid overtime to the Labor Standards Unit of the Department of Labor and Training using its Non-Payment of Wages Complaint Form.
Official Rhode Island Sources & Resources
- Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Labor Standards: https://dlt.ri.gov/regulation-and-safety/labor-standards
- Rhode Island statute (Separate laws require time and a half on Sundays and holidays in retail and some other businesses.): https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE28/28-12/28-12-4.1.htm
- Verified source: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — state payday requirements: dol.gov
This rhode island overtime laws guide was last verified against official Rhode Island sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
More Rhode Island Workplace Rights Guides
- Rhode Island Break Laws: Meal and Rest Breaks
- Rhode Island Final Paycheck Law: Deadlines and Penalties
- Rhode Island Labor Laws: Every Rule in One Place
- Rhode Island Unemployment Benefits: How Much and How Long
- Unemployment and Workplace Rights Guides for All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. My Unemployment Rights is an independent educational resource, not a government agency and not a law firm. Final-paycheck deadlines, penalties and non compete rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it. Confirm the current rule with your state labor department or a licensed attorney before you act.