Minimum wage · Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia minimum wage.
What Nova Scotia employers must pay per hour in 2026, and what that comes to per week, per pay period and per year.
Nova Scotia's minimum wage is $16.75 an hour as of 1 April 2026, rising to $17.00 on 1 October 2026.
There is no student rate, and the old inexperienced employee rate was repealed in 2020. From April 2027 the rate rises annually by CPI plus one percentage point.
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Nova Scotia minimum wage rates in 2026
| Rate | Amount | In effect from |
|---|---|---|
| General minimum wage | $16.75/hour | 1 April 2026 |
| Logging and forest operations, workers other than time workers, per month | $3,293.05 per month | 1 April 2026 |
| Scheduled increase | $17.00/hour | 1 October 2026 |
The separate inexperienced-employee rate was repealed by N.S. Reg. 12/2020 and no longer exists; there is also no student rate. From 1 April 2027 the Minimum Wage Order raises the rate annually by the Consumer Price Index plus one percentage point, rounded to the nearest five cents. Separate Minimum Wage Orders cover construction and property maintenance and logging and forest operations, at the same hourly figures.
Source, last verified 2 September 2026: Nova Scotia Labour Standards — Minimum wage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Nova Scotia?
$16.75 an hour since 1 April 2026, rising to $17.00 on 1 October 2026.
From 1 April 2027 the Minimum Wage Order raises the rate every year by the Consumer Price Index plus one percentage point, rounded to the nearest five cents.
Does Nova Scotia still have an inexperienced-employee rate?
No. The lower rate for inexperienced employees was repealed by N.S. Reg. 12/2020 and the definition was struck from the Minimum Wage Order.
There is also no student rate. A single hourly minimum applies to every employee the Order covers.
Are there different minimum wages by industry in Nova Scotia?
The hourly figures are the same, but there are separate Minimum Wage Orders for construction and property maintenance and for logging and forest operations.
The logging Order also sets a monthly minimum of $3,293.05 for workers who are not time workers, rising to $3,342.20 on 1 October 2026.
Can vacation pay be rolled into my hourly rate in Nova Scotia?
Yes, but the combined rate must then be at least the minimum wage plus 4% — or plus 6% if you have passed the seven-year threshold.
A rate that merely equals the minimum wage while claiming to include vacation pay does not comply.
Estimate only — not legal advice
This calculator produces an estimate from the published employment-standards minimums. It is not legal advice and it is not a determination of what you are owed. Minimum wage in Nova Scotia is set by Nova Scotia Labour Standards and can change on a fixed indexation date.
Collective agreements, employment contracts, exemptions for your occupation, averaging agreements and permits can all change the answer. For a binding answer, contact the employment-standards office named above or a lawyer.