What is the new minimum wage in Ontario?
The new minimum wage in Ontario is $17.95 an hour, effective October 1, 2026. It went up 35 cents from $17.60, a 1.9% increase tied to Ontario's Consumer Price Index.
Working full-time (40 hours a week), the new rate pays $718.00 a week or $37,336 a year before tax. After federal tax, Ontario tax, CPP and EI, a full-time minimum wage worker takes home about $30,911 a year — roughly $1,189 every two weeks.
The student, homeworker and hunting and fishing guide rates went up on the same day. All rates apply until September 30, 2027.
Ontario minimum wage rates 2026
Ontario has one general minimum wage and a few special rates. Here is every rate before and after the October 1, 2026 increase.
| Type of worker | Before Oct 1, 2026 | New rate from Oct 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| General minimum wage | $17.60/hr | $17.95/hr |
| Students under 18 (up to 28 hrs/week in school, or on breaks) | $16.60/hr | $16.90/hr |
| Homeworkers (paid work done from home) | $19.35/hr | $19.70/hr |
| Hunting, fishing and wilderness guides — under 5 hours a day | $88.05/day | $89.75/day |
| Hunting, fishing and wilderness guides — 5 or more hours a day | $176.15/day | $179.50/day |
The student rate only applies to students under 18 who work 28 hours a week or less while school is in session, or who work during a school break or summer holidays. Homeworkers — people doing paid work from their own home for an employer — get a higher rate than the general minimum.
How much is $17.95 an hour?
Here is what the new Ontario minimum wage works out to over a day, a week and a year, before tax.
| Pay period | At $17.95/hr | At old $17.60/hr | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8-hour day | $143.60 | $140.80 | +$2.80 |
| 40-hour week | $718.00 | $704.00 | +$14.00 |
| Biweekly (80 hours) | $1,436.00 | $1,408.00 | +$28.00 |
| Monthly (average) | $3,111 | $3,051 | +$61 |
| Yearly (2,080 hours) | $37,336 | $36,608 | +$728 |
Want your own numbers? Try the minimum wage calculator or the hourly paycheque calculator.
Ontario minimum wage take-home pay (after tax)
Your take-home pay depends on how many hours you work. These estimates use 2026 federal and Ontario tax rates, CPP, EI and the Ontario Health Premium, for someone with only employment income.
| Hours per week | Weekly gross | Yearly gross | Yearly take-home | Biweekly take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 hours | $359.00 | $18,668 | $17,235 | $663 |
| 25 hours | $448.75 | $23,335 | $20,608 | $793 |
| 30 hours | $538.50 | $28,002 | $23,987 | $923 |
| 35 hours | $628.25 | $32,669 | $27,479 | $1,057 |
| 37.5 hours | $673.13 | $35,003 | $29,225 | $1,124 |
| 40 hours | $718.00 | $37,336 | $30,911 | $1,189 |
| 44 hours | $789.80 | $41,070 | $33,614 | $1,293 |
At these income levels most of your deductions are CPP and EI rather than income tax. If you work part-time, you may also qualify for the Canada Workers Benefit and the GST/HST credit, which put money back in your pocket at tax time.
Overtime, vacation and stat pay at the new rate
- Overtime: in Ontario, overtime starts after 44 hours in a week and is paid at 1.5 times your regular rate. At minimum wage, that is at least $26.93 an hour.
- Vacation pay: at least 4% of wages if you've worked for your employer less than five years, and 6% after five years. On a full-time minimum wage year, 4% is about $1,493. See the vacation pay calculator.
- Public holiday pay: calculated from the wages you earned in the four weeks before the holiday, so it rises with the new rate. See the stat holiday pay calculator.
- Tips don't count: your employer can't use tips to make up the minimum wage. You must get at least $17.95 an hour before tips.
Ontario minimum wage history
Ontario raises its minimum wage every October 1 by the previous year's increase in the Ontario Consumer Price Index. Here is how the general rate has moved in recent years.
| Effective date | General minimum wage |
|---|---|
| October 1, 2026 | $17.95 |
| October 1, 2025 | $17.60 |
| October 1, 2024 | $17.20 |
| October 1, 2023 | $16.55 |
| October 1, 2022 | $15.50 |
Ontario announces the next rate on or before April 1 each year. The 2027 rate will be announced by April 1, 2027 and take effect on October 1, 2027. For rates in other provinces, see our new minimum wage in Canada guide.
What Ontario employers need to do
- Split pay periods that cross October 1. Ontario treats them as two separate pay periods: hours before October 1 at the old rate, hours from October 1 at the new rate.
- Update every special rate, not just the general one — students, homeworkers and guides changed too.
- Check salaried staff. Divide their pay by hours actually worked to make sure it still meets $17.95 an hour.
- Review deductions. Ontario employers can't deduct wages for cash shortages, lost property or faulty work, even with the employee's agreement.