The student minimum wage is a lower hourly rate that applies to students under the age of 18 who work part-time during the school year.
As of October 1, 2026, the student minimum wage in Ontario is $16.90 per hour.
How It Has Changed Over the Years
|
Period
|
Student Minimum Wage
|
|---|---|
|
Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027
|
$16.90 per hour
|
|
Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026
|
$16.60 per hour
|
|
Oct 1, 2024 – Sep 30, 2025
|
$16.20 per hour
|
|
Oct 1, 2023 – Sep 30, 2024
|
$15.60 per hour
|
Who Does It Apply To?
The student minimum wage applies to you if you are:
- Under 18 years old
- Working 28 hours or less per week during the school year
- A student currently enrolled in school
All three conditions must apply. If any one of them does not — you move to the general minimum wage.
When the General Minimum Wage Applies Instead
Even if you are a student under 18, the general minimum wage of $17.95 per hour applies to you if:
- You work more than 28 hours in a week during the school year
- You work during summer vacation or a school break — when you are not required to attend school
- You are 18 or older
A Simple Example
Sarah is 16 years old and works at a café on weekends — about 12 hours per week during the school year. She earns the student minimum wage of $16.90 per hour.
During summer vacation she picks up extra shifts and works 35 hours a week. Now she is entitled to the general minimum wage of $17.95 per hour — because school is out and she is working more than 28 hours.
What If Your Employer Is Paying You Less?
If you are being paid below the rate that applies to you, your employer is breaking the law. You can file a complaint with the Ontario Ministry of Labour at no cost — and your employer cannot punish you for doing so.
The bottom line: The student minimum wage is $16.90 per hour starting October 1, 2026 — but it only applies under specific conditions. The moment you work more than 28 hours a week or school is out, you are entitled to the full general minimum wage of $17.95.
Know which rate applies to you — and make sure you are getting it.
