Rhode Island paycheck taxes at a glance
| Income tax on wages | Progressive, 3.75% – 5.99% |
|---|---|
| RI TDI/TCI (1.1%) | 1.1% of wages up to $100,000 |
| Minimum wage (2026) | $16.00 an hour (tipped employees can be paid a cash wage of $3.89 if tips make up the rest) |
2026 Rhode Island income tax brackets (single filers)
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $82,049 | 3.75% |
| $82,050 – $186,449 | 4.75% |
| $186,450 and up | 5.99% |
Example: a $91,000 salary in Rhode Island
The median household income in Rhode Island is about $91,039 (2025 data). Here's what one earner with that salary, paid every two weeks, filing single with no pre-tax deductions, would see on each paycheck in 2026:
| Gross pay | $3,500.00 |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax | −$430.38 |
| Social Security | −$217.00 |
| Medicare | −$50.75 |
| Rhode Island income tax | −$107.52 |
| RI TDI/TCI (1.1%) | −$38.50 |
| Take-home pay | $2,655.84 |
That's $69,052 a year in take-home pay, or 24.1% of gross pay going to taxes.
Take-home pay by salary in Rhode Island
Single filer, paid biweekly, standard W-4, no pre-tax deductions:
| Salary | Per paycheck | Per year | State taxes | Total tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1,269.11 | $32,997 | $1,323 | 17.5% |
| $60,000 | $1,849.88 | $48,097 | $2,293 | 19.8% |
| $80,000 | $2,378.73 | $61,847 | $3,263 | 22.7% |
| $100,000 | $2,882.00 | $74,932 | $4,248 | 25.1% |
| $150,000 | $4,121.84 | $107,168 | $6,623 | 28.6% |
| $200,000 | $5,381.88 | $139,929 | $8,998 | 30% |
What changed for 2026
- The income tax brackets were adjusted for inflation. The 4.75% rate now starts at $82,050 of taxable income (up from $79,900) and the 5.99% rate at $186,450 (up from $181,650).
- The standard deduction rose to $11,200 for single filers (from $10,900) and $22,400 for married couples filing jointly (from $21,800). The personal and dependency exemption rose from $5,100 to $5,250.
- The minimum wage rose from $15.00 to $16.00 an hour on January 1, 2026, and is set to reach $17.00 on January 1, 2027.
Rhode Island pay rules worth knowing
- Most employers must pay weekly, and each payday must fall within nine days of the end of the pay period. Employers that meet certain conditions can get state permission to pay less often, but never less than twice a month.
- When you leave a job, final wages are due on the next regular payday. If you've worked there at least a year, accrued vacation pay is included. If the business is closing, merging or moving out of state, all wages are due within 24 hours.
Two state deductions
A Rhode Island paycheck has two state lines:
- Income tax, at 3.75%, 4.75% and 5.99% on taxable income (see the brackets above).
- TDI/TCI, 1.1% of wages up to $100,000. Once your wages for the year pass $100,000, this deduction stops, so higher earners see slightly bigger checks late in the year. The calculator applies the cap automatically.
Rhode Island’s unemployment insurance tax is paid only by employers, so it never appears on your stub.
How the income tax is figured
Rhode Island subtracts its own standard deduction and exemptions from your income before applying the rates. For 2026:
- Standard deduction: $11,200 single, $22,400 married filing jointly, $16,800 head of household.
- Exemptions: $5,250 for you, your spouse if filing jointly, and each dependent.
So a single filer with no dependents pays nothing on the first $16,450 of income, then 3.75% on the next $82,050 of taxable income. All of these amounts are indexed to inflation each year; the Division of Taxation published the 2026 figures in November 2025.
The rate schedule is the same for every filing status. Married couples filing jointly reach the 4.75% bracket at the same taxable income as single filers, though their larger deduction and two exemptions mean it takes more gross income to get there.
Weekly paychecks
Rhode Island requires most employers to pay every week. Employers can petition the Department of Labor and Training to pay less often if they meet conditions set in state law, but they still have to pay at least twice a month. Whatever the schedule, payday must come within nine days of the end of the pay period. To see your take-home per weekly check, choose Weekly as the pay frequency in the calculator.
Benefits your contribution buys
The 1.1% you contribute funds both programs, and you apply for benefits through the Department of Labor and Training. Benefits are figured from your earlier wages: from July 1, 2026, weekly TDI benefits range from $148 to $1,150, plus an allowance if you have dependents.
The salary calculator converts Rhode Island’s $16.00 minimum wage, or any hourly rate, into annual pay, and the income tax calculator estimates your full-year federal tax.
Estimates only. Your employer’s payroll system, your W-4 and Form RI W-4 determine your actual paycheck.
Sources
- Rhode Island General Laws § 28-12-3: Minimum wages
- Rhode Island General Laws § 28-12-5: Tipped employees
- Rhode Island General Laws § 28-14-2: Regular paydays
- Rhode Island General Laws § 28-14-4: Unpaid wages on separation
- Rhode Island General Laws § 25-3-3: Sunday and holiday pay
- U.S. Department of Labor: State payday requirements
- U.S. Department of Labor: State minimum wage laws
- Census Bureau: Household Income in States and Metropolitan Areas, 2025
- tax.ri.gov
- dlt.ri.gov
- IRS Publication 15-T (federal withholding)
Frequently asked questions
What is the TDI/TCI deduction on my Rhode Island pay stub?
It's your contribution to Rhode Island's Temporary Disability Insurance and Temporary Caregiver Insurance programs. For 2026 it's 1.1% of the first $100,000 you earn, so the most anyone pays for the year is $1,100. Employers don't pay a share; it comes entirely from employee wages.
What do TDI and TCI pay for?
TDI replaces part of your pay for up to 30 weeks if you can't work because of an illness or injury that isn't work-related. TCI pays for up to 8 weeks to bond with a new child or care for a seriously ill family member.
Do I lose my standard deduction at high incomes?
Yes. Rhode Island phases out the standard deduction and exemptions when federal AGI (as modified for Rhode Island) passes $261,000 in 2026. They shrink in $7,450 steps and are gone entirely above $290,800.
Do I get extra pay for working on a Sunday in Rhode Island?
Often, yes. Rhode Island law requires at least time-and-a-half for Sunday and holiday work it covers, with exemptions for some businesses such as certain round-the-clock manufacturers and taxi companies. That premium isn't built into this calculator, so add it to your gross pay if it applies to you.
Is Rhode Island's minimum wage going up again?
Yes. State law sets it at $16.00 for 2026 and $17.00 starting January 1, 2027. The cash wage for tipped employees stays at $3.89 an hour, as long as tips bring total pay up to the full minimum.
Facts verified November 6, 2026. Estimates only; your employer's payroll system and your W-4 determine your actual withholding.