Rules checked October 2026Minimum wage verified October 9, 2026

Working as an International Student in Ontario (2026)

Short answer

In Ontario, international students follow the federal rules: up to 24 hours a week off campus while classes are in session and unlimited hours on campus or during scheduled breaks. The province's general minimum wage is $17.95 an hour (since October 1, 2026), so a 24-hour week pays $431 before deductions. Kept up every week of the year, that is about $19,952 after 2026 income tax, CPP and EI.

Minimum wage: $17.95/hr; Rank 4 of 13
24 h week, gross: $431; Before deductions
24 h every week, net: $19,952; per year after 2026 tax
School-year estimate: $21,934; 1,408 h, after tax

Who this is for: International students studying in Ontario — Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga and beyond — who want to know what a part-time job really pays, where to look, and which provincial rules and graduate pathways apply.

Work-hour rules in Ontario

IRCC sets these, not Ontario: see the international students hub for conditions, SIN and scams.

Sources: IRCC: Work off campus as an international student; IRCC: Work on campus as an international student — checked October 2026.

Minimum wage and student pay in Ontario

Ontario also has a lower student minimum wage of $16.90 an hour, but it only applies to students under 18 working 28 hours a week or less while school is in session. If you're 18 or older, you are owed the general rate of $17.95. Ontario ranks 4th of 13 for its general minimum wage; full details are on the Ontario minimum wage page. Next change: Adjusted every Oct 1 (CPI-linked).

Nearby: Quebec $16.60, Manitoba $16.40.

Take-home pay on a part-time student schedule

Each row assumes you work the same hours every week of the year at Ontario's $17.95 minimum wage, taxed as a 2026 resident of Ontario with basic credits only (estimate).

Weekly and annual pay at Ontario minimum wage by hours worked, before and after 2026 tax
Hours / week	Weekly gross	Yearly gross	Yearly after tax	Weekly after tax
10	$180	$9,334	$8,835	$170
15	$269	$14,001	$13,128	$252
20	$359	$18,668	$17,223	$331
24	$431	$22,402	$19,952	$384

School-year scenario: 32 weeks of classes at 24 hours plus 16 weeks of scheduled breaks at 40 hours is 1,408 hours — about $25,274 before tax and $21,934 after CPP, EI and income tax. Use the Ontario salary after tax calculator for other amounts.

Ontario's provincial basic personal amount is $12,747 (lowest bracket 5.05%) and the federal one is $16,452, so the first dollars you earn carry little or no income tax. On $22,402 a year (24 hours every week) the estimate is $414 federal tax, $545 Ontario tax and $1,490 in CPP and EI. Tuition amounts and your residency status for tax can change the result.

Source: CRA: Taxes for international students studying in Canada — checked October 2026.

What common student jobs pay in Ontario

Cashier: median $18.00/hr (low $17.20, high $22.50)
Hotel front desk clerk: median $19.00/hr (low $17.20, high $25.00)

Job Bank wage data for Ontario, refreshed April 2026.

Where to find work in Ontario

Main cities for student jobs: Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton, London, Waterloo. Start with your campus career centre and on-campus job board, then:

Job Bank (Government of Canada) (opens in a new tab)
Employment Ontario (opens in a new tab) — the province's employment-services network (check eligibility for each service)

Not sure which job to aim for? See the best part-time jobs for international students, each with a resume and interview example.

Your rights at work in Ontario

Ontario's provincial rules on pay, overtime and breaks cover you like any other worker. Unpaid or below-minimum wages? Contact Your guide to Ontario's Employment Standards Act (opens in a new tab).

Staying in Ontario after graduation

OINP graduate streams

Ontario's 2026 OINP updates page lists the Employer Job Offer: International Student, Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams among those closed as part of the OINP redesign. Check the OINP's current streams before planning around them.

Source: Ontario: 2026 OINP updates — checked October 2026.

Federally, most graduates start with a post-graduation work permit and work toward the Canadian Experience Class.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours can international students work in Ontario?

IRCC, not Ontario, sets the limits: 24 hours a week off campus during classes, unlimited in scheduled breaks and on campus, if your permit allows work (checked October 2026).

What is the minimum wage for students in Ontario?

How much does a student earn working 24 hours a week in Ontario?

At the $17.95 minimum wage, 24 hours is $431 a week before deductions. Worked every week of the year that is $22,402 gross and about $19,952 after 2026 tax, CPP and EI — roughly $384 a week.

What could I earn over a school year in Ontario?

With 32 weeks of classes at 24 hours and 16 weeks of scheduled breaks at 40 hours (1,408 hours at minimum wage), you would earn about $25,274 before tax and $21,934 after — an estimate, not a guarantee of hours.

Where can international students find jobs in Ontario?

Start with your campus career centre, then Job Bank (Government of Canada) and Employment Ontario. The main job markets are Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga and Brampton, Hamilton, London, Waterloo.

Is there a provincial immigration pathway for international graduates in Ontario?

Ontario's 2026 OINP updates page lists the Employer Job Offer: International Student, Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams among those closed as part of the OINP redesign. Check the OINP's current streams before planning around them. Streams change often — confirm on the official provincial site.