In order to get the wave loads on pile groups with slab merged in water, an engineering approach was proposed. Three coefficients in terms of slab effect were discussed and a time -domain analysis of wave forces acting on piles was conducted. Wave diffraction from a slab was obtained by the potential theory and eigenfunction expansion method, while wave loads on piles were evaluated by Morison formula. The wave force on pile obtained by the proposed method and the numerical simulation are in good agreement, which shows a good reliability of the proposed method. The result shows that, owing to the size of slabs, there exist some differences in the changing rule of slab effect varying with the submerged depth. The resultant force decreases with the rise of incident wave number, and the changing trend of its acting point appears an inflection point at some wave number. The minimum force acting on piles lies in the meeting-wave side of the slab, while the maximum one arises at the back side or in the scope of 30 degrees between the axis of slab, which is perpendicular to the incident wave, and the back side. The presence of slab causes the deflexion and phase difference of inline force. Meanwhile, the grouping piles coefficient can be taken as 0.7.