Minimum Wage in Canada

Nunavut has the highest general minimum wage in Canada at $20.17 per hour, effective September 1, 2026. That works out to $41,954 a year for a standard 40-hour week.

Alberta has the lowest general minimum wage among the 14 Canadian jurisdictions, at $15.00 per hour (effective October 1, 2018) — $31,200 a year for a standard 40-hour week.

The federal minimum wage is $18.15 per hour, effective April 1, 2026. It applies only to employees of federally regulated employers — banking, telecommunications, broadcasting, and interprovincial or international transportation. Everyone else is covered by their province or territory's own minimum wage.

Alberta's general minimum wage is $15.00 per hour, effective October 1, 2018. Alberta has not announced any increase for 2026 — its rate has been unchanged since October 2018 and is currently the lowest general minimum wage among Canada's provinces and territories.

Ontario's general minimum wage is $17.95 per hour, effective October 1, 2026. A separate student minimum wage of $16.90 per hour applies to students under 18 who work 28 hours a week or less, or who work during a school holiday (at any hours).

Most provinces and territories now index their minimum wage annually to inflation (usually the provincial Consumer Price Index), with the increase taking effect on a fixed date each year — commonly April 1, but Ontario uses October 1, British Columbia uses June 1, and Quebec uses May 1. A few jurisdictions, like Alberta, have not changed their rate in several years.

Yes. Ontario has a separate student minimum wage of $16.90 per hour for students under 18 who work 28 hours a week or less, or who work during a school holiday (at any hours). It applies alongside the general rate of $17.95 per hour.

Annual gross pay at minimum wage depends on your province: at a standard 40-hour week for 52 weeks, Federal minimum wage ($18.15/hour) works out to $37,752 gross per year. See the full province-by-province table above for other rates, and use the Take-Home Pay Calculator to see what you keep after tax.

Almost everyone is covered by their province or territory's minimum wage, not the federal one. The federal minimum wage only applies if your employer operates in a federally regulated industry (banks, telecom and broadcasting companies, airlines, railways, and interprovincial trucking, for example). If you are unsure, check your employer's industry against the federally regulated sectors list, or ask your employer directly.

No. Tips and gratuities generally belong to the employee and cannot be counted by an employer toward meeting the minimum wage requirement. Quebec sets a lower minimum wage ($13.30 per hour) for employees who ordinarily receive tips and work in places such as restaurants, bars and tourist lodging. Ontario's Employment Standards Act has no liquor-server rate, and British Columbia has paid liquor servers the general minimum wage since June 1, 2021. Check your province's employment standards page for its special rates.