Minimum wage in Ontario is currently $17.20 per hour. It’s set according to the Ontario Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is used to measure inflation.
Minimum wage is the base rate that employers must pay their employees. It applies to most employees regardless of their hours or pay structure. Each province typically has a general minimum wage and a special minimum wage for select workers.
Ontario has special rates for students, homeworkers, and wilderness guides.
Key Takeaways
- The current minimum wage in Ontario is $17.20 per hour.
- This rate will increase to $17.60 per hour on October 1, 2025.
- There are special minimum wage rates in effect for students, homeworkers, and several other groups.
- Ontario's minimum wage is significantly lower than experts' calculations for the living wages needed in various areas.
- The federal minimum wage was increased on April 1, 2025 to $17.75 per hour.
Minimum wage in Ontario
The minimum wage in Ontario was set at $17.20 per hour on October 1, 2024. This rate is the general minimum wage and applies to the majority of workers.
However, there are exceptions to the general minimum wage for some occupations:
- Students
- Homeworkers
- Wilderness guides
Minimum wage increases in Ontario 2025
There will be an increase to the minimum wage for Ontario on October 1, 2025. The rate will be raised to $17.60 per hour.
This rate increase, as with previous increases over the past few years, is part of the Ontario government’s plan to help workers keep up with rising inflation and the cost of living.
To further improve affordability for Ontarians, the minimum wage may be increased annually, with more information expected on or before April 1st each year.
Ontario minimum wage by worker
Below you’ll find the Ontario general minimum wage as well as the specialized minimum wage rates:
| Type of worker | Description | Ontario minimum wage |
|---|---|---|
| General | Most employees who do not qualify for special wage rates | $17.20 per hour |
| Student | Students under 18 years old who work 28 hours or less (during the school semester or summer break) | $16.20 per hour |
| Homeworkers | Employees who work in their own homes for pay | $18.90 per hour |
| Hunting, fishing, and wilderness guides | Guides who are employed to teach or assist others with activities related to the wilderness, such as hiking, dogsledding, survival training, canoeing, skiing, and more | $86.85 for working less than 5 consecutive hours in a day $172.05 for working 5+ hours in a day, consecutive or not |
Ontario minimum wage for commission-based employees
The minimum wage in Ontario also affects commission-based employees. Commission-based employees are defined as workers who earn a wage based on their performance or achievements, usually in sales.
If an employee works in a commission-based job, the employer must pay them at least minimum wage for the time they worked.
For example, let’s say that a car salesperson makes $300 in commission and works 20 hours. Using Ontario’s minimum wage rate of $17.20 per hour, the minimum that the salesperson needs to make is $344 for 20 hours:
20 hours x $17.20 per hour = $344
Therefore, the employer owes the employee an extra $44 on their paycheque.
Ontario minimum wage vs. Ontario living wage
Ontario’s living wage refers to the amount of money Ontario residents require to support themselves and pay for their basic living expenses. The living wage amount varies by region since the cost of living is not the same between the various communities.
Here are the living wages for some key areas of the province:
| City | Living wage (per hour) |
|---|---|
| Toronto | $26.00 |
| Ottawa | $22.80 |
| Hamilton | $21.30 |
| Northern Ontario | $20.30 |
| Southwest Ontario | $19.85 |
| Eastern Ontario | $21.65 |
These rates are from November 2024 (the most current available) and may be adjusted if an employer provides benefits.Rates are updated every November by the Ontario Living Wage Network.
The minimum wage in Ontario falls short of the living wage in most of Ontario’s regions, especially in the greater Toronto area, where the cost of living is the highest in the province.
Federal minimum wage increase
The federal minimum wage was increased to $17.75 on April 1, 2025. The federal minimum wage is adjusted annually to keep up with the changes in Canada’s Consumer Price Index (CPI).
This change will increase the minimum wage for workers in federally regulated private sectors. Some examples of federally regulated private sectors are:
- Banks
- Postal services
- Air and road transportation
- Telecommunications (telephone, internet, etc.)
- Radio and TV broadcasting
If the minimum wage of a province or territory is higher than the federal minimum wage, employees of these sectors will earn the higher provincial wage.
FAQ
What is minimum wage in Ontario?
Ontario's general minimum wage is currently $17.20 per hour, but it will be raised to $17.60 per hour on October 1, 2025. Keep in mind, there are also special minimum wage rates for certain occupations.
What is the liquor server minimum wage in Ontario?
The liquor server minimum wage in Ontario is $17.20 per hour. Prior to January 1, 2022, servers were given a special minimum wage, but it's now the same as the rate for most other occupations.
When did minimum wage go up in Ontario?
The last minimum wage increase in Ontario was on October 1, 2024 when it was raised by $0.65 to $17.20 per hour. It will increase again on October 1, 2025 to $17.60 per hour.
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