What minimum wage rules apply to Ontario employees, including students and liquor servers?
Ontario's Employment Standards Act, 2000 sets a general minimum wage that applies to most employees, currently $17.60 an hour for the period running to September 30, 2026, with an announced increase to $17.95 taking effect October 1, 2026 — minimum wage rates in Ontario change each fall, so always confirm the current rate rather than relying on last year's figure. A separate, lower minimum wage applies specifically to students under 18 who work 28 hours a week or less while school is in session, or who work during a school break, currently $16.60 an hour, with an announced increase to $16.90 on the same date.
Liquor servers no longer have a separate, lower minimum wage in Ontario; that category was folded into the general minimum wage some years ago, and employers who assume a lower "server" rate still applies are working from outdated information. A separate, higher minimum wage rate also applies to homeworkers, currently $19.35 an hour, rising to $19.70 on October 1, 2026.
Because these rates are reviewed annually and specific categories have shifted historically, employers should check the current Ontario minimum wage schedule directly before setting or relying on a pay rate for any particular category of employee.
Key takeaways
- General, student, and homeworker categories each have their own minimum wage rate under the ESA.
- Liquor servers are no longer subject to a separate, lower minimum wage; the general rate applies to them.
- Minimum wage rates typically change each October 1, so confirm the current figure before relying on it.
- Student and homeworker rates carry specific eligibility conditions, not just an age or job title label.