Minimum Wage in Nova Scotia: 2025 Rates and Updates

The Minimum Wage in Nova Scotia plays a big role in everyday life for workers, students, and employers. As living costs shift and provinces adjust their pay rules, it’s helpful to understand where Nova Scotia stands compared to the broader minimum wage in Canada.

Knowing the wage rate can make it easier to plan your budget, understand your rights, and see how employers are expected to keep up with rising costs.

What is the Current Minimum Wage in Nova Scotia?

As of October 1, 2025, the general minimum wage in Nova Scotia is $16.50 per hour. This reflects a $0.80 increase from the previous rate of $15.70 per hour. These rates apply to workers across the province, including those in Halifax, Dartmouth, Sydney, Truro, and New Glasgow.

The minimum wage rate is adjusted annually based on the national Consumer Price Index (CPI), plus 1% added to the minimum wage from the previous year. A total increase of $1.30 in 2025 results in an additional annual income of up to $2,535 for full-time minimum wage workers. (Source)

Nova Scotia Minimum Wage History (2017-2025)

Here is a history of Nova Scotia’s minimum wage, showing the increases from 2017 to 2025:

As you can see from the data for 2017-2019, the increases were typically between 15 and 25 cents per year.

While these adjustments provided some growth, they were often criticized for failing to keep pace with the actual rate of inflation. In other words, minimum-wage earners weren’t actually gaining buying power; their money was staying the same or even losing value over time.

Starting April 1, 2020, Nova Scotia began increasing minimum wage each year based on last year’s national CPI (inflation rate) plus an extra 1%.

This is why the increase from $11.55 in 2020 to $12.95 in 2021 was much bigger.

Going forward, the minimum wage will continue increasing incrementally on April 1 of each year based on the legislated formula.

Are there any Minimum Wage Exceptions in Nova Scotia?

While minimum wage orders cover most employees in Nova Scotia, there are 15 exemptions for specific occupations and workers under provincial legislation.

It means employers may legally pay below the provincial minimum wage for these exempt groups:

• Real estate salespeople
• Car salespeople
• Insurance salespeople and brokers
• Crew members on a fishing boat
• Apprentices registered under the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act
• Agricultural workers involved in farming operations
• Athletes, while engaged in sports
• Students in work training or apprenticeship programs
• Employees at summer camps or non-profit recreational facilities
• Domestic workers employed for 24 hours or less per week
• Domestic service providers for the immediate family
• Workers under Construction/Logging minimum wage orders
• Government training program participants
• Commissioned salespeople who work outside the employer’s premises (but not those on established routes)

Because the regulations can be complex and vary by industry, both employers and employees in these fields should consult Nova Scotia’s Labour Standards directly to ensure they fully understand their rights and obligations.

What are Minimum Wage Orders in Nova Scotia?

While Nova Scotia has a standard minimum wage rate, there are also three specialized “minimum wage orders” that cover specific industries.

Construction workers often face irregular schedules and project-based employment. Besides, forest operations involve remote work locations and seasonal variations. Because of these differences, they matter for overtime calculations and exemption categories.

As a result, employers must understand which order applies to their operations and employees. If they choose the wrong one, it can lead to violations and penalties. Labour Standards inspectors check compliance through workplace investigations and by reviewing complaints.

Source: Nova Scotia Minimum Wage 2025, loanscanada

Allowable Deductions from Minimum Wage in Nova Scotia

Under Nova Scotia’s minimum wage orders, employers can deduct specific room and board costs from an employee’s minimum wage earnings:

• $68.20 per week for combined room and board
• $55.55 per week for board only
• $15.45 per week for lodging only
• $3.65 per meal

These permitted deductions ensure workers still net at least the minimum wage rate after lodging and meal expenses.

However, uniform costs cannot be deducted from pay if doing so reduces an employee’s earnings below the minimum wage. The exception is the cost to dry clean heavy wool or required work materials.

(Source: https://novascotia.ca/lae/employmentrights/minimumwage.asp)

When Does Overtime Pay Apply in Nova Scotia?

Beyond setting a wage floor, Nova Scotia’s minimum wage orders establish varying overtime pay between industries.

In most cases, overtime must be paid at 1.5 times the regular pay rate for employees covered by these orders. Some groups covered under specific minimum wage orders may receive overtime at 1.5 times the minimum wage instead of their regular wage.

However, it is important to note that most of the occupations exempt from minimum wage, as we previously mentioned, such as commissioned salespeople, apprentices, farm employees, and fishers, are also entirely exempt from overtime pay requirements.

For these workers, employers are not legally required to pay an overtime rate, regardless of the number of hours worked.

Is the Living Wage Higher Than the Minimum Wage in Nova Scotia?

The “living wage” in Nova Scotia is calculated based on actual living costs, reflecting what workers must earn to cover reasonable household expenses, not just necessities.

Nova Scotia Living Wage Rates by Region (2025)

Analysis by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives shows Nova Scotia’s living wages are well above the current minimum wage. This suggests the minimum wage needs to fully reflect the actual cost of living in Nova Scotia based on living wage calculations.

The Future of Minimum Wage in Nova Scotia

Based on the current formula, Nova Scotia’s minimum wage will likely continue seeing small incremental increases annually. This is because the rate is tied to inflation, so as the cost of living goes up, the wage does too, but only by a little.

However, whether more impactful changes occur depends on shifting political dynamics. Groups like labour advocates will keep lobbying for reforms and a higher minimum wage anchored to living costs.

For now, the status quo of annual CPI-based adjustments appears to continue, barring changes in government or the mandated formula. However, robust debate regarding the ideal minimum wage is expected to remain active.

Discover the minimum wage across different provinces and territories in Canada:

• Minimum Wage in Newfoundland and Labrador
• Minimum Wage in New Brunswick
• Minimum Wage in Manitoba
• Minimum Wage in British Columbia
• Minimum Wage in Alberta

The bottom line

Minimum wage in Nova Scotia provides workers with a base level of income protection. However, given widespread cost inflation, debate continues about whether the current rate enables a decent quality of life. So, employers should understand complex rules for call-ins, piecework calculations, and allowable deductions while recognizing those exempt from protection.

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