What is Canada's Minimum Wage?

What is Canada’s Minimum Wage?

A minimum wage is the lowest amount an employee can legally be paid per hour. Nunavut has Canada's highest provincial or territorial minimum wage, at $19 per hour.

Minimum wage is the lowest amount an employer can pay you for your labour.

Find out which Canadian provinces and territories have the most generous minimum wage rates, and discover which jobs fall into unique minimum wage categories.

» MORE: Is now the right time to change jobs?

Current federal minimum wage

Canada instituted a new federal minimum wage of $17.30 per hour on April 1, 2024. Prior to 2021, workers were subject to the minimum wage of whatever province or territory they worked in. The federal minimum wage is set by the government and is adjusted based on inflation each year.

The federal minimum wage applies to all workers in industries regulated by the federal government, including:

Federal Crown corporations, such as Canada Post.
First Nations band councils and some Indigenous government jobs.
Air transportation.
Banking.
Some road transportation services.
Telecommunications.

Special minimum wage rates

In general, provincial or territorial minimum wage standards apply equally to all wage earners regardless of their age, their specific job or the number of hours they work. Interestingly, however, some provinces allow different minimum wages based on age and for some specialized jobs. These special minimum wage rates apply in Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Yukon.

For example, the minimum wage requirements in Ontario, set out in the province’s Employment Standards Act and effective as of October 1, 2024, differ for the following categories:

General minimum wage: $17.20 per hour.
Student minimum wage: $16.20 per hour.
Homeworkers minimum wage: $18.90 per hour.
Hunting, fishing and wilderness guides minimum wage: A day rate of $86 for less than five consecutive hours of work per day, or $172.05 for five or more hours of work per day.

Categories of work that qualify for a special minimum wage can vary widely based on the region. For example, Quebec has a special minimum wage exception for raspberry and strawberry pickers, and one for employees who receive tips. Alberta has a special minimum wage for live-in domestic workers, and British Columbia has a special rate for live-in camp leaders.

Current provincial minimum wages

Minimum wage is different in each province and territory. Here’s a look at provincial and territorial minimum hourly wages for general labour as of October 1, 2024:

Alberta: $15.00.
British Columbia: $17.40.
Manitoba: $15.30.
New Brunswick: $15.60.
Newfoundland and Labrador: $15.60.
Northwest Territories: $16.70.
Nova Scotia: $15.20.
Nunavut: $19.00.
Ontario: $17.20.
Prince Edward Island: $16.00.
Quebec: $15.75.
Saskatchewan: $15.00
Yukon: $17.59

» MORE: Canada’s provincial income tax rates

What does “minimum wage” mean?

A minimum wage is the lowest amount of money an employer can legally pay an employee, and it’s typically expressed as a number of dollars per hour.

While the Canadian government does not set a maximum amount an employee can be paid, it is concerned with setting a minimum wage in the interest of promoting fair employment practices, protecting vulnerable and non-unionized workers, and helping to combat poverty.

Most employees qualify for minimum wage, whether they work full-time, part-time or casually. Minimum wages vary significantly throughout the country as they are set by the labour legislation of each province and territory. For example, Nunavut has the highest minimum wage rate, $19.00 per hour, while Alberta and Saskatchewan have the lowest, at only $15 per hour.

It’s worth noting that each province and territory has a different process by which legislators decide whether to raise the minimum wage, and by how much.

Most provinces and territories automatically adjust their minimum wages based on a Consumer Price Index, which tracks the increases in prices of various goods (i.e., inflation). Alternatively, Prince Edward Island’s minimum wage is reviewed every year by its Employment Standards Board to determine if and by how much it should be increased.

How to supplement your minimum wage income

It can be challenging to make ends meet if you earn the minimum wage, especially if you live in a big city or other high-cost-of-living area.

While it’s a good idea to prioritize saving money, that’s not always possible when struggling to manage the cost of essentials.You could look into making money online, or consider other ways to make extra money, such as picking up freelance or gig work, babysitting, or turning an extra room in your home into a short-term rental if your local regulations allow it.