The legal working age in Ontario depends on the type of job and workplace. There is no single minimum age that applies to every job.
In many workplaces, such as offices, stores, arenas and restaurant serving areas, a person can generally work starting at age 14. Other workplaces have higher minimum ages because of health and safety risks.
Young workers are also protected by Ontario employment standards, including rules for minimum wage, pay statements, hours worked and workplace safety.
Quick answer: The minimum working age in Ontario can range from 14 to 19 depending on the job. A 14-year-old may be able to work in a store or restaurant serving area, while construction, mining and other higher-risk workplaces have stricter age requirements.
On This Page:
- 1. Minimum Working Age in Ontario
- 2. Minimum Age by Job
- 3. Can You Work at 14?
- 4. Can You Work at 15?
- 5. Can You Work at 16?
- 6. Working During School Hours
- 7. Minimum Wage for Young Workers
- 8. Young Worker Rights
- 9. FAQ
What Is the Legal Working Age in Ontario?
Ontario does not have one legal working age for every type of employment. Minimum age requirements depend on the workplace and the type of work being performed.
For many common first jobs, the minimum age is 14 or 15. Jobs involving construction, mining and other higher-risk environments generally require workers to be older.
Ontario’s minimum-age rules are primarily workplace-safety rules under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations.
Employers can also set their own minimum hiring ages that are higher than the legal minimum.
Minimum Working Age in Ontario by Job
The minimum age depends on where you work.
| Minimum age | Examples of workplaces or jobs |
|---|---|
| 14 | Offices, stores, arenas and restaurant serving areas |
| 15 | Factories, manufacturing and assembly plants, repair shops, restaurant kitchens, automotive garages, warehouses and certain grocery preparation areas |
| 16 | Construction projects, logging operations, mining plants and most areas of surface mines |
| 18 | Underground mines, the working face of surface mines, window cleaning and offshore oil or gas rigs |
| 19 | Certain shaft-attendant work on construction projects where a hoist is being used |
These are minimum legal ages. An employer can decide not to hire workers below a higher age threshold if that policy is lawful.
Looking for a first job? A store, office or restaurant serving area may generally hire workers starting at age 14, while restaurant kitchens and many industrial workplaces require workers to be at least 15.
Can a 14-Year-Old Work in Ontario?
Yes, in certain workplaces.
A 14-year-old can generally work in workplaces such as:
- Stores
- Offices
- Arenas
- Restaurant serving areas
However, a 14-year-old generally cannot work in a factory, restaurant kitchen, construction site or other workplace with a higher minimum age requirement.
Can a 14-Year-Old Work at a Restaurant?
It depends on the part of the restaurant.
A worker can generally be employed in a restaurant serving area at age 14. Work in a restaurant kitchen generally requires the worker to be at least 15.
The distinction matters because restaurant kitchens are treated as factories for the purpose of Ontario’s minimum-age workplace rules.
Can a 15-Year-Old Work in Ontario?
Yes. A 15-year-old can work in many Ontario workplaces.
In addition to offices, stores and restaurant serving areas, workers who are at least 15 can generally work in factories and similar industrial workplaces.
Examples include:
- Restaurant kitchens
- Manufacturing and assembly plants
- Repair shops
- Automotive service garages
- Warehouses
- Certain grocery-store food preparation areas
- Shipping and receiving areas
- Certain laundries
Jobs in construction, logging and certain mining operations still have a higher minimum age.
What Jobs Require You to Be 16 or Older in Ontario?
Workers generally must be at least 16 years old to work:
- On a construction project
- In a logging operation
- At a mining plant
- At a surface mine, other than the working face
Construction sites also generally can’t permit a person younger than 16 to be present while work is being performed.
What Jobs Require You to Be 18?
Workers must generally be at least 18 years old to work:
- In an underground mine
- At the working face of a surface mine
- In window cleaning
- Offshore on or from an oil or gas rig
Are There Any Jobs With a Minimum Age of 19?
Yes. A worker generally must be at least 19 to act as a shaft attendant for a shaft where a hoist is being used on a construction project.
Can Someone Under 16 Work During School Hours in Ontario?
Generally, no.
Ontario’s Education Act generally requires children to attend school from age six until age 18.
Employers are also generally prohibited from employing a child under age 16 during school hours.
There are exceptions. For example, certain students age 14 and older may participate in approved supervised alternative learning programs that can include employment.
Being old enough to work does not automatically mean you can work during school hours. A 14- or 15-year-old may legally qualify for certain jobs but still be required to attend school during the school day.
Minimum Wage for Workers Under 18 in Ontario
Young workers must generally receive at least the minimum wage that applies to them.
Ontario has a separate student minimum wage for students under 18 who:
- Work 28 hours per week or less while school is in session; or
- Work during a school holiday, including summer vacation, March break or Christmas break
As of October 1, 2026, Ontario’s student minimum wage is $16.90 per hour. The general minimum wage is $17.95 per hour.
The rates can change each year. See our Ontario minimum wage guide for the current rates and rules.
Does the Student Minimum Wage Apply to Everyone Under 18?
No. The student rate applies to qualifying students under 18, not automatically to every worker under 18.
A student under 18 who works more than 28 hours in a week while school is in session may instead be entitled to the general minimum wage for that work.
What Rights Do Young Workers Have in Ontario?
Young workers have workplace rights. Being a teenager or working a first job does not allow an employer to ignore Ontario employment standards.
Depending on the job and applicable exemptions, young workers can have rights involving:
- Minimum wage
- Regular pay days
- Pay statements
- Vacation pay
- Public holiday pay
- Meal breaks
- Hours-of-work rules
- Protection from unlawful deductions
- Workplace health and safety protections
Can an Employer Deduct Money From a Young Worker’s Pay?
Employers can’t simply deduct money from an employee’s wages whenever they want.
For example, an employer generally can’t deduct money for a cash shortage where more than one person had access to the register, or for faulty work such as a mistake, damaged tool or declined credit-card transaction.
Some deductions, including certain uniform costs, may be permitted where the employee has provided a valid written authorization.
Does Ontario’s Three-Hour Rule Apply to Students?
It can.
If an employee normally works more than three hours in a day, reports for work and is given less than three hours despite being available to work longer, Ontario’s three-hour rule may require the employer to provide at least three hours of pay.
There are exceptions, including special rules for some students working at children’s camps, supervising or instructing children, or in certain charitable recreational programs.
First job does not mean fewer rights. Young employees should keep their own records of hours worked, schedules and pay statements in case there is a dispute about wages or working conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Legal Working Age in Ontario
How old do you have to be to work in Ontario?
It depends on the job. The minimum age is generally 14 for workplaces such as stores, offices, arenas and restaurant serving areas. Higher-risk workplaces can require workers to be 15, 16, 18 or 19.
Can you work at 13 in Ontario?
A 13-year-old generally cannot work in the industrial workplaces covered by Ontario’s minimum-age rules, such as stores, offices and restaurants. Separate rules and exceptions can apply to certain activities, including child performers.
Can you work at 14 in Ontario?
Yes. A 14-year-old can generally work in an office, store, arena or restaurant serving area, subject to school-attendance requirements and any employer hiring policies.
Can a 14-year-old work at McDonald’s or another restaurant?
The legal minimum depends on the work being performed. A restaurant serving area generally has a minimum age of 14, while a restaurant kitchen generally has a minimum age of 15. The employer can also set a higher minimum hiring age.
Can you work at 15 in Ontario?
Yes. A 15-year-old can generally work in many workplaces, including restaurant kitchens, warehouses, repair shops and manufacturing facilities. Construction and certain other higher-risk workplaces require workers to be at least 16.
Can a 15-year-old work during school hours?
Generally not. Ontario employers are generally prohibited from employing children under 16 during school hours, subject to specific exceptions such as approved alternative learning programs.
Can you work construction at 15 in Ontario?
No. A worker generally must be at least 16 years old to work on an Ontario construction project.
What is the minimum wage for a 16-year-old in Ontario?
A 16-year-old student who works no more than 28 hours per week while school is in session, or works during a school holiday, can generally be paid Ontario’s student minimum wage. Other young workers may qualify for the general minimum wage instead.
Do teenagers get vacation pay in Ontario?
Young employees covered by Ontario’s ESA can generally earn vacation pay just like older employees. Certain student and work-experience arrangements can have exemptions or special rules.
Know Your Rights at Work
Ontario’s minimum-age rules determine when a young person can legally work in certain workplaces. Once employed, young workers can also have important rights relating to wages, hours, breaks and workplace safety.
If an employer has failed to pay wages or meet a minimum employment standard, our guide to Ontario Ministry of Labour complaints explains the complaint process and when legal advice may be appropriate.