- $40.00 or more
- 15 points: the maximum
- $35.00 to $39.99
- 12 points
- $30.00 to $34.99
- 10 points
- $25.00 to $29.99
- 8 points
- $20.00 to $24.99
- 5 points
- Under $20.00
- 0 points
- Scale type
- Thresholds, not a sliding scale, $39.99 scores as $35.00
- Counts
- The hourly wage stated in the job offer, base only
- Physicians
- Factor does not apply, maximum total is 115
$32.00 an hour scores 10 of 15 points ($30.00 to $34.99). You are $3.00/hr below the next threshold; closing that gap is worth +2 points.
The wage points table
| Hourly wage in the job offer | Points | Gain over the band below |
|---|---|---|
| $40.00 or more | 15 | +3 |
| $35.00 to $39.99 | 12 | +2 |
| $30.00 to $34.99 | 10 | +2 |
| $25.00 to $29.99 | 8 | +3 |
| $20.00 to $24.99 | 5 | +5 |
| Under $20.00 | 0 | - |
Note where the value sits: the jump from under $20 to $20 is worth 5 points : the largest single step, and the jump from $39.99 to $40.00 is worth 3. The middle of the range is comparatively flat.
Why the staircase matters
- Check your distance to the next threshold before your employer finalises the offer. A 4% raise from $38.50 to $40.00 is worth 3 points; the same raise from $36 to $37.50 is worth nothing.
- Nothing above $40 helps. A $70 an hour offer scores the same 15 as a $40 one. If you are already above the top band, spend your negotiating capital elsewhere.
- Fix it before the EOI. The wage that counts is the one in the job offer when it is filed. After registration, a raise changes nothing for this application.
- Base wage only. Bonuses, overtime and commission generally do not count, so a base plus commission package can score well below what it actually pays.
Wage points vs the prevailing wage
These are two different tests and people conflate them constantly.
Prevailing wage
Your offer must meet or exceed the typical wage for that occupation in that region. Fail this and the offer is ineligible; no score is calculated at all.
Wage points
A fixed dollar table applied identically across Ontario. You can clear the prevailing wage comfortably and still score zero here if the role pays under $20 an hour.
This is why some genuinely good essential-sector offers score 0 on wage: the prevailing wage for that occupation may sit below $20, so the offer is perfectly eligible and still earns nothing on this factor. Those profiles are won on region and language instead.
Wage vs region: where to spend your effort
Both factors max at 15 points, but they move very differently. A wage negotiation typically moves you one band, 2 or 3 points. A change of work location can move you the full 15.
| Move | Typical gain | How hard |
|---|---|---|
| Up one wage band | +2 to +3 | A raise conversation before the offer is filed |
| Toronto → Northern Ontario | +15 | A different work address, if genuine |
| Toronto → any region outside the GTA | +10 | Same |
| Under $20 → $20+ | +5 | Often the most achievable wage move |
If you can only have one conversation with your employer, have it about the work location. How region points work →
Wage points FAQ
What applicants and employers ask about the wage factor.
How are OINP wage points calculated?
In six bands based on the hourly wage in your job offer: $40.00 or more earns 15 points, $35.00 to $39.99 earns 12, $30.00 to $34.99 earns 10, $25.00 to $29.99 earns 8, $20.00 to $24.99 earns 5, and under $20.00 earns nothing.
Is the OINP wage factor a sliding scale?
No; it is a staircase. $39.99 and $35.00 score identically at 12 points, while $40.00 scores 15. One cent can be worth three points, which is why checking your position relative to the next threshold before the EOI is registered matters.
What wage do I need for maximum OINP points?
$40.00 an hour or more earns the maximum 15 points. There is no additional benefit above that on this factor, a $70 an hour offer scores exactly the same 15 as a $40 offer.
Does the wage factor apply to self employed physicians?
No. Physicians have no employer setting a wage, so the factor is removed rather than scored at zero, and their maximum total score is 115 instead of 130.
What is the prevailing wage and how is it different?
The prevailing wage is the typical wage for your occupation in that region, and your offer must meet or exceed it to be eligible at all. That is a pass or fail gate. The wage points table is separate; you can clear the prevailing wage and still score zero on the factor if the offer is under $20 an hour.
Can I ask my employer for a raise to gain points?
Yes, and it is one of the few levers that can move before you register. A wage increase must be genuine and reflected in the job offer, and it has to be consistent with the role and market. Raising an offer from $38.50 to $40.00 is a 4% increase worth 3 points.
Do bonuses, overtime or commission count?
The factor is based on the hourly wage stated in the job offer. Variable compensation such as bonuses, overtime and commission generally do not count toward it, so a base plus commission structure can score lower than the total earnings suggest.
Is a higher wage worth more than a regional job?
Usually not. Moving up one wage band is worth 2 to 3 points; moving from Toronto to Northern Ontario is worth 15. Because both factors max at 15, the region factor is almost always the larger and faster win.