New Ontario Minimum Wage Increase 2024

Last Updated On 15 April 2024, 4:42 AM EDT (Toronto Time)

Yes, you heard it right. It is now officially confirmed that the new Ontario minimum wage increase of 2024 will come into effect on October 1.

The Ontario government will be raising the minimum wage from $16.55 to $17.20 per hour beginning October 1, 2024.

This 3.9% annualized salary rise, based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index (CPI), raises Ontario’s minimum wage to the second highest among major Canadian provinces.

British Columbia will have the highest minimum wage of $17.40 per hour effective June 1, 2024.

The minimum wage rates are adjusted annually to reflect the rate of inflation. If the inflation rate changes, the new rate will be publicized on or before April 1 and take effect on October 1.

So a worker earning the basic minimum wage and working 40 hours per week might expect an annual pay increase of up to $1,355.

In 2023, 935,600 workers earned $17.20 or less per hour.

Apart from this general wage increase, special minimum wage rates for students and homeworkers (working from home) will also increase effective October 1.

Special Ontario Minimum Wage will also increase

Students under the age of 18 who work 28 hours or less per week throughout the school year or during school vacations or summer holidays will see their hourly rate increase from $15.60 to $16.20.

The minimum wage for homeworkers in Ontario, those who do paid work from home, will rise from $18.20 to $18.90 per hour.

Students who work as homeworkers, regardless of age (including those under 18), must receive the minimum wage set for homeworkers.

The minimum wage for hunting, fishing, and wilderness guides will increase from $82.85 to $86 per day when working fewer than five consecutive hours and from $165.75 to $172.05 per day when working five or more hours.

After 365 days, on October 1, 2025, Ontarians can expect a further hike based on inflation, which will take the minimum wage close to $18 per hour.

Ontario minimum wage history

Although it brings some relief to workers in Ontario, the minimum wage has increased only $2.95 hourly in the last four years.

Minimum wage rate	Effective October 1, 2024	Effective October 1, 2023	Effective October 1, 2022	Effective January 1, 2022	Effective October 1, 2021	Effective October 1, 2020
General minimum wage	$17.20 per hour	$16.55 per hour	$15.50 per hour	$15.00 per hour	$14.35 per hour	$14.25 per hour

Ontario Minimum Wage hikes since 2020

Similarly, the minimum wage under 18 in Ontario for students has only increased by $2.80 per hour since October 2020.

Minimum wage rate	Effective October 1, 2024	Effective October 1, 2023	Effective October 1, 2022	Effective January 1, 2022	Effective October 1, 2021	Effective October 1, 2020
Student minimum wage	$16.20 per hour	$15.60 per hour	$14.60 per hour	$14.10 per hour	$13.50 per hour	$13.40 per hour

Student minimum wage hikes

Homeworkers (working from home) have seen the highest hourly rise of $3.20, from $15.70 per hour to $18.90 per hour.

Minimum wage rate	Effective October 1, 2024	Effective October 1, 2023	Effective October 1, 2022	Effective January 1, 2022	Effective October 1, 2021	Effective October 1, 2020
Homeworkers wage	$18.90 per hour	$18.20 per hour	$17.05 per hour	$16.50 per hour	$15.80 per hour	$15.70 per hour

Working from home, minimum wage

Ontario Minimum Wage Still Short of Living Wages

According to the latest report by the Ontario Living Wage Network, the average living wage in Ontario is almost $21 per hour ($20.97), but it exceeds $25 in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

The province has 868 certified living wage workplaces under 635 companies that voluntarily pay living wages rather than the minimum wage.

The Ontario Living Wage Network’s report provides the following breakdown of living wages in various regions of Ontario:

Region	Living Wage
Greater Toronto Area	$25.05
Grey Bruce Perth Huron Simcoe	$22.75
Dufferin Waterloo Guelph-Wellington	$20.90
Brant Niagara Haldimand Norfolk	$20.35
North	$19.80
Ottawa	$21.95
East	$20.60
Hamilton	$20.80
Southwest	$18.65
London Elgin Oxford	$18.85