Ontario’s New Minimum Wage Starts October 1, 2025

Starting October 1, 2025, Ontario’s minimum wage will increase to $17.60 per hour. This announcement came on April 1 and brings a 40-cent raise from the current $17.20. The change aims to help workers keep up with rising costs like food, rent, and other essentials.

This yearly wage update follows the Ontario Consumer Price Index. It’s meant to protect workers’ buying power as inflation climbs. This increase could mean around $832 more in a year for a full-time worker.

Ontario adjusts wages regularly. In 2024, the general minimum wage increased from $16.55 to $17.20. This year’s 2.33% hike continues that trend, showing the province's ongoing response to inflation.

Wage Increases for Different Workers

Students under 18 who work part-time will also get a raise. Their new wage will be $16.60 per hour. This applies to those working 28 hours or less during the school year or full-time during summer breaks. It’s a 40-cent bump from last year’s $16.20. Though still lower than the general minimum wage, this rate supports young people earning part-time income.

There’s a rule for student remote workers too. If a student works from home—like tutoring or freelancing—they must be paid the “homeworker” rate, which is higher.

Speaking of homeworkers, they’re getting a boost as well. If you work from home—say in telemarketing, coding, sewing, or customer service—you’ll earn $19.35 per hour starting October 1. That’s up from the current $18.90. This wage reflects the added costs and challenges of remote work.

Hunting, fishing, and wilderness guides are also included. Their pay depends on how many hours they work per day, not by the hour. Starting October 1:

• For under 5 hours of work, guides will earn $88.05 (up from $86).
  
• For 5 hours or more, the new rate is $176.15 (up from $172.05).
  

These workers often operate in northern Ontario, leading outdoor trips like canoeing or hiking. Though the increases seem small, they offer some help against rising fuel and gear prices.

What About the Living Wage?

Despite these changes, many say Ontario’s minimum wage still isn’t enough. Experts believe workers need about $21 to $26 per hour in most parts of the province to cover basic costs. In places like Toronto, rent and bills can easily outpace a $17.60 wage.

For example, the average full-time minimum wage worker earns around $2,851 per month before taxes. But rent alone in the GTA can take up over $2,000. That leaves little room for food, transport, or savings.

People are calling for a higher wage that reflects real life, not just inflation data. Groups say Ontario should raise the rate to $20 or more to meet today’s costs. Living wage numbers back that up. In 2024, the average living wage across ten regions in Ontario was $21.66, with Toronto sitting at $26.

So while this increase helps, many feel it's not enough to keep up with real expenses.

Still, the October 2025 raise is an important step. It gives employers time to adjust and workers a date to look forward to. As living costs keep climbing, the big question remains—will future wage hikes be bold enough to match?