Minimum wage in Canada 2026 by province and territory
The full table for all ten provinces, three territories and the federal rate, with the 1 October 2026 increases, student rates, overtime rules and what happens with tips.
Canada does not have a single minimum wage: each province and territory sets its own. As of 24 September 2026, the general minimum wage ranges from $15.00 an hour in Alberta to $20.17 in Nunavut. The federal minimum wage has been $18.15 an hour since 1 April 2026. On 1 October 2026, five provinces raise their rates: Ontario to $17.95, Nova Scotia to $17.00, Prince Edward Island to $17.30, Manitoba to $16.40 and Saskatchewan to $15.70.
What counts is where you work, not where you live, and also who you work for: employees in federally regulated sectors, such as banks, telecommunications and interprovincial transportation, fall under the federal minimum wage. If the rate in the province where they usually work is higher, the employer must pay the higher one.
Minimum wage in Canada 2026: table by province and territory
The figures below come from the Government of Canada's minimum wage database, cross-checked against provincial and territorial government pages. All are hourly rates before deductions.
| Jurisdiction | Current rate (24 September 2026) | In effect since | Next change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal | $18.15 | 1 April 2026 | — |
| Ontario | $17.60 | 1 October 2025 | $17.95 on 1 October 2026 |
| Quebec | $16.60 | 1 May 2026 | — |
| British Columbia | $18.25 | 1 June 2026 | — |
| Alberta | $15.00 | 26 June 2019 | No increase announced |
| Manitoba | $16.00 | 1 October 2025 | $16.40 on 1 October 2026 |
| Saskatchewan | $15.35 | 1 October 2025 | $15.70 on 1 October 2026 |
| Nova Scotia | $16.75 | 1 April 2026 | $17.00 on 1 October 2026 |
| New Brunswick | $15.90 | 1 April 2026 | — |
| Prince Edward Island | $17.00 | 1 April 2026 | $17.30 on 1 October 2026, then $17.60 on 1 April 2027 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.35 | 1 April 2026 | — |
| Yukon | $18.51 | 1 April 2026 | — |
| Northwest Territories | $17.20 | 1 September 2026 | — |
| Nunavut | $20.17 | 1 September 2026 | — |
A dash (—) means the federal database listed no upcoming increase on the date we checked. Most provinces announce increases months in advance, so if you are reading this several months after publication, check your province's page.
The 1 October 2026 increases: who gets them and how much?
If you earn minimum wage in one of these five provinces, the increase applies automatically to the hours you work from 1 October 2026. You do not need to ask for it. Check your first pay stub after that date to make sure the new rate appears on it.
| Province | Before 1 October | From 1 October 2026 | Increase per hour | Difference for a 40-hour week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | $17.60 | $17.95 | $0.35 | $14 |
| Nova Scotia | $16.75 | $17.00 | $0.25 | $10 |
| Prince Edward Island | $17.00 | $17.30 | $0.30 | $12 |
| Manitoba | $16.00 | $16.40 | $0.40 | $16 |
| Saskatchewan | $15.35 | $15.70 | $0.35 | $14 |
A worked example: a full-time worker in Ontario on the new rate, 40 hours a week, earns $718 a week before taxes and deductions, or about $37,336 a year over 52 paid weeks. What actually lands in your account depends on income tax, pension contributions and employment insurance premiums, and you can work it out precisely with the take-home pay calculator.
A note on Saskatchewan: on 29 June 2026 the provincial government announced that the minimum wage would rise to $15.70 on 1 October 2026, under a formula that gives equal weight to the consumer price index and the province's average hourly wage. The federal database had not yet added this increase when we checked, so we relied on the province's official announcement.
Student and homeworker rates: Ontario, Alberta and Quebec
Some provinces allow a lower rate for students under 18. This matters most to families whose teenagers work in restaurants and shops after school.
| Province | Category | Current rate | From 1 October 2026 | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Student rate | $16.60 | $16.90 | Student under 18 working 28 hours a week or less while school is in session, or working during a school break or summer holidays |
| Ontario | Homeworker | $19.35 | $19.70 | Someone doing paid work from their own home for a business, such as sewing, answering calls or programming |
| Alberta | Student under 18 | $13.00 | No change announced | Applies only to the first 28 hours a week while school is in session. Hours beyond that are paid at the general rate of $15. During school breaks, the lower rate applies to all regular hours |
| Quebec | No separate student rate | General rate of $16.60 | The federal database lists no specific student rate for Quebec | |
In Ontario, a student under 18 who works from home is paid the higher homeworker rate, not the student rate. In Alberta, the student rate applies only to someone under 18 who is actually enrolled in school up to grade 12, or in a vocational, college or university program.
Tips: can your employer pay you less because you receive them?
In most of Canada, no. Quebec is the only province for which the federal database lists a lower minimum wage for workers who usually receive tips: $13.30 an hour since 1 May 2026, compared with the general rate of $16.60.
British Columbia's official table shows a separate rate for liquor servers, but it is exactly the same as the general rate ($18.25), so there is no reduction. If you are a server anywhere outside Quebec and you are told that tips "make up" for a wage below the minimum, that contradicts the official table. Contact your province's employment standards office.
Overtime in Canada by province: when it starts and how much you get
Overtime is usually paid at one and a half times your regular wage, not the minimum wage. But the number of hours after which it kicks in varies widely between provinces:
| Jurisdiction | Overtime starts after | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Federally regulated sectors | 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week | Time and a half, or paid time off at one and a half hours for each overtime hour |
| Ontario | 44 hours a week | Time and a half |
| Quebec | 40 hours a week | 50% on top of the regular wage |
| Alberta | 8 hours a day or 44 hours a week, whichever is greater | At least time and a half |
| British Columbia | 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week | Time and a half, and double time for hours beyond 12 in a day |
| Manitoba | 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week | Time and a half |
| Saskatchewan | 8 hours a day (10 for those on a 10-hour schedule) or 40 hours a week | Whichever of the daily or weekly total is greater |
In the other provinces and territories, both the threshold and the way it is calculated differ, so check your province's official employment standards page before judging your pay stub. Averaging agreements and agreements to bank overtime as time off also change the calculation, so ask your employer for a written copy of any such agreement.
What the minimum wage does not guarantee
- It does not guarantee a number of hours. The minimum wage is a price per hour; it does not oblige the employer to give you a fixed schedule.
- It does not cover every occupation the same way. Special rates exist in some provinces for piece-rate farm workers, hunting and fishing guides, construction workers, and groups such as live-in workers.
- It is not take-home pay. The figure in the table is before income tax, CPP/QPP contributions and employment insurance.
- This guide is not legal advice. If you have a wage dispute, the authority is your province's employment standards office.
If you have just arrived, start with your Social Insurance Number before your first day of work: how to get a SIN. To see how far your wage really goes in your city, use the monthly budget calculator, and compare the cost of living across Canada's provinces.
What to do if your employer pays you less than minimum wage
- Keep your own record of your hours: the date and your start and finish times. Take a photo of the shift schedule if there is one.
- Collect your pay stubs and deposit records. A pay stub should show the hourly rate and the number of hours.
- Ask your employer in writing to correct it first, stating the official rate and the date it took effect.
- If it is not corrected, file a complaint with your province's employment standards office, or with the federal Labour Program if you work in a federally regulated sector.
At the end of the year, the wages you earn go on your annual tax return, and they can raise or lower the amount of Canada child benefit you receive. If you need help with your return, the directory has a list of accountants.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest minimum wage in Canada in 2026?
Nunavut, at $20.17 an hour since 1 September 2026. Among the ten provinces, the highest is British Columbia at $18.25.
What is the lowest minimum wage in Canada?
Alberta, at $15.00 an hour, unchanged since 26 June 2019, with a $13 rate for students under 18 under certain conditions.
Is Quebec's minimum wage going up in October 2026?
No. Quebec's increase came on 1 May 2026, to $16.60. The October increases apply to Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
I work at a bank in Alberta. Which minimum wage applies to me?
Banking is a federally regulated sector, so the federal minimum wage of $18.15 applies to you, which is higher than Alberta's. The rule is that you get the higher of the federal rate and the rate of the province where you usually work.
My son is 16 and works in the summer in Ontario. How much is he entitled to?
The student rate: $16.60 until 30 September 2026, and $16.90 from 1 October 2026. During the summer and school breaks, the student rate applies regardless of the number of hours.
Is overtime calculated on the minimum wage or on my own wage?
On your regular wage. If you earn $22 an hour, an overtime hour at time and a half is worth $33.