What is the Minimum Wage in Nova Scotia?

Nova Scotia's minimum wage is $9.65 per hour. A total of 6 Canadian provinces or territories have a minimum wage rate higher then Nova Scotia.

A full time hourly worker in Nova Scotia earning minimum wage will earn a total of $386.00 per week and approximately $20,072.00 per year (based on an 8-hour work day and a 260-day work year). Remember that, with tax deductions, the actual amount earned will likely be lower.

Nova Scotia Minimum Wage & Labor Law

The Nova Scotia Minimum Wage is applicable to all "experienced" workers with at least three monthes of experience in their industry. "Inexperienced" workers with less then three monthes of experience may be paid a lower minimum wage rate of $9.15 per hour.

Exemptions to the Nova Scotia Minimum Wage - Besides the special minimum wage rate for inexperienced workers, Nova Scotia has a variety of exemptions to the minimum wage. The following employees are not covered by the general minimum wage of Nova Scotia:

• certain farm workers
• apprentices employed under the terms of an apprenticeship agreement under the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act
• anyone receiving training under government-sponsored and government-approved plans
• anyone employed at a non-profit playground or summer camp
• real estate and car salespeople
• commissioned salespeople who work outside the employer's premises, but not those on established routes
• insurance agents licensed under the Insurance Act
• anyone working on a fishing boat
• anyone who comes under the Minimum Wage Orders concerning Logging and Forest Operations and Construction and Property Maintenance
• anyone employed in a private home by the householder to provide domestic service for a member of the employee's immediate family or for 24 hours or less per week

Nova Scotia Overtime Minimum Wage - Whenever an employee works more then 48 hours in a single week, he is entitled to be paid at least 1.5 times the regular minimum wage for all overtime hours worked.

Employers who provide board and lodging for their employees in Nova Scotia may deduct no more then $65.00 from the employee's weekly paycheck to pay for the meals and lodging provided. A total of $52.65 may be deducted weekly for board only, or $14.65 for lodging only.

If an employee is called into work outside of his/her normal working hours in Nova Scotia, the employee is entitled to be paid for at least three hours at the standard Nova Scotia minimum wage rate (even if the employee works for less then three hours).

What is the Minimum Wage?

The Nova Scotia Minimum Wage is the lowest hourly wage employers in Nova Scotia can legally pay their employees. The minimum wage is set by the Nova Scotia government and is periodically updated to reflect the current cost of living and ensure that all workers are paid a fair living wage.

What if my employer is paying me less then the Minimum Wage?

Unless your job is covered by one of Nova Scotia's legal exemptions to the minimum wage described above, your employer is legally required to pay you at least the hourly minimum wage of $9.65 per hour. If you believe your employer is illegally paying you less then the Nova Scotia minimum wage, contact the Nova Scotia Department of Labor immediately and they will advocate on your behalf.

Need more information? Find data on the Minimum Wage in other provinces.