Ontario Minimum Wage

October 1 2024 - The general minimum wage has increased from $16.55 to $17.20. This rate will apply until September 30 2025.

Minimum wage rate for specific job categories are:

  • General Minimum Wage Rate - $17.20 per hour
  • Students (under 18, upto 28 hours a week school time + school breaks) Minimum Wage Rate - $16.20 an hour.
  • Hunting and fishing guides currently have a minimum rate of $86.00 for working less than five consecutive hours in a day, and $172.05 for working five or more hours in a day.
  • Homeworkers (people doing paid work in their home for a third-party employer; e.g. answering telephone calls for a call centre or writing software for a high-tech company) - $18.90 an hour.

The special minimum wage rate for liquor servers was removed two years ago, entitling these workers to the general minimum wage.

David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, said:

"Today, the general minimum wage in Ontario increases from $16.55 per hour to $17.20, helping nearly one million workers earn more money for themselves and their families.

"Ontario’s minimum wage is one of the highest in the country. This 3.9 per cent increase is tied to the Consumer Price Index, meaning that a worker making the general minimum wage over a 40-hour work week will have up to $1,355 more in their pockets every year. Our fair and balanced approach makes things predictable for both workers and businesses.

"Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is committed to working for workers and supporting them as we continue to build a strong Ontario with a resilient economy.

"We also know minimum wage jobs should be a starting point, not an endpoint.

"That’s why we have programs helping people get into good jobs offering higher pay and more benefits. Most recently, we passed the Working for Workers Four Act, 2024, which puts workers first, fills the labour shortage, incentivizes employers to create more local jobs and helps more workers land better opportunities with bigger paycheques.

"We are going to continue to deliver real, positive change so Ontario can continue to be the best place to live, work and raise a family"