Check your pay stub: Ontario's minimum wage is now $17.95
Pay day check: Ontario's minimum wage is now $17.95 an hour, up 35 cents since Oct. 1. Students under 18 working 28 hours a week or less get $16.90. Pay looks short? The province's employment standards line is 1-800-531-5551.
Topics: Money and taxes
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Ontario's general minimum wage went up to $17.95 an hour on Oct. 1, 2026, a raise of 35 cents from $17.60. If you work an hourly job in Windsor-Essex, now is a good time to check that your pay stub shows the new rate.
Who gets what
The general minimum wage of $17.95 applies to most workers. 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, must be paid at least $16.90 an hour, up from $16.60.
The province says a full-time worker earning the general minimum wage for 40 hours a week will see about $728 more a year.
Why it went up
Under the Employment Standards Act, Ontario's minimum wage is adjusted every Oct. 1 based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index. This year's increase was tied to a 1.9 per cent rise. The province announces each new rate by April 1, and this year's was announced on April 1, 2026.
If your pay is short
The Employment Standards Information Centre answers questions about pay and other workplace rights at 1-800-531-5551 (TTY 1-866-567-8893). Workers who believe their employer is breaking the Employment Standards Act can file a claim with the province online or with a paper form.
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