Alberta Minimum Wage and Canada Minimum Wage by Province and Territory
Reviewed 5 November 2026
Alberta's general minimum wage is $15 an hour. Only students under 18 may be paid the $13 student rate: for the first 28 hours worked in a week when school is in session, and for all regular hours when school is not in session, with other restrictions described below. The federal minimum wage for federally regulated workplaces is $18.15 an hour from April 1, 2026, and the Government of Canada's page says "If the minimum wage set by the province or territory you are employed in is greater than the federal minimum wage, the provincial or territorial wage rate will apply to you." The table gives each general rate as its source states it: rows fetched on November 5, 2026, rows marked as archived on their capture dates, and Newfoundland and Labrador's rate from a news release dated February 26, 2026. Nunavut is not sourced.
General minimum wage by province and territory
| Jurisdiction | General rate (per hour) | In effect from | Next rate announced | Other rates or exceptions the source names | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal (federally regulated workplaces) | $18.15 | April 1, 2026 | Adjusted each April 1; no 2027 rate in the saved sources | A higher provincial or territorial rate applies instead; the page names an exemption for provincially registered apprentices | Government of CanadaEmployment and Social Development Canada |
| Alberta | $15.00 | Not printed on the saved page | None stated in the saved source | Students under 18 only: $13 an hour for the first 28 hours in a week when school is in session and for all regular hours when school is not in session, restrictions apply; weekly rate for some salespersons; monthly rate for live-in domestic employees; exempt occupations | Government of Alberta |
| British Columbia | $18.25 | June 1, 2026 | None stated; each minimum wage rises with the BC consumer price index each year. If the CPI goes down, minimum wages stay the same | Different minimum wages for some employees in specific industries (live-in camp leaders, resident caretakers, others) | Government of British Columbia, as archived on October 25, 2026 |
| Manitoba | $16.40 | October 1, 2026 | None stated in the saved source | Some groups of employees are excluded; there are separate minimum wage rules for the heavy construction sector and the industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) sectors of the construction industry | Government of Manitoba |
| New Brunswick | $15.90 | April 1, 2026 | None stated; the rate is to be adjusted with the New Brunswick consumer price index | Special rates for some government construction work and for summer-camp counsellors and program staff | Government of New Brunswick, as archived on November 2, 2026 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.35 | April 1, 2026 | None stated; rates are adjusted each April 1 | The release names the general rate and a minimum overtime rate of $24.53 an hour; it names no other rates | Government of Newfoundland and LabradorNewfoundland and Labrador Statistics Agency |
| Northwest Territories | $17.20 | September 1, 2026 | None stated; adjusted each September 1 by formula, and the July 31, 2026 announcement says further public engagement will inform decisions about the minimum wage for 2027 | The pages saved name no other rates | Government of the Northwest Territories, Education, Culture and EmploymentGovernment of the Northwest Territories |
| Nova Scotia | $17.00 | October 1, 2026 | None stated in the saved source | Separate orders for construction and property maintenance and for logging and forest operations; some employees are not covered | Government of Nova Scotia |
| Nunavut | Not sourced | Not sourced | Not sourced | The Labour Standards Act (s. 12(1.1)) sets the greater of $13 an hour and the prescribed rate; the prescribed rate was not found | Nunavut Labour Standards Act, official consolidation (nunavutlegislation.ca) |
| Ontario | $17.95 | October 1, 2026 | None stated; the rates are subject to annual indexation, with a changed rate published on or before April 1 and taking effect on October 1 | Student, homeworker, and hunting, fishing and wilderness guide rates; some jobs are exempt | Government of Ontario |
| Prince Edward Island | $17.30 | October 1, 2026 | $17.60 an hour from April 1, 2027 (Minimum Wage Order EC2026-379) | The order covers employees to whom section 5 of the Employment Standards Act applies | Prince Edward Island |
| Quebec | $16.60 | May 1, 2026 | None stated in the saved sources | A separate minimum tipped wage rate for some workers; some categories of workers are outside the minimum wage rules | CNESST (Quebec), as archived on July 13, 2026Gouvernement du Québec |
| Saskatchewan | $15.70 | October 1, 2026 | None stated; changes are generally announced on or before June 30 and take effect October 1 | Some employees do not have to be paid the minimum wage | Government of Saskatchewan |
| Yukon | $18.51 | April 1, 2026 (as archived on July 17, 2026; the page is dated February 5, 2026) | None stated; the page says the rate increases every April 1 | Separate fair wage schedule for Government of Yukon public works contracts | Government of Yukon, as archived on July 17, 2026 |
The table shows the general rate only; the right-hand column names the other rates or exemptions each source mentions, and each province's page is the full reference. None stated in the saved source means the source printed no later rate on November 5, 2026; it does not mean no change is planned. For Newfoundland and Labrador we used the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador news release of February 26, 2026 and the Statistics Agency rate table, because we found no labour-standards page that states the rate. When we checked on November 5, 2026, only Prince Edward Island's order set a rate with a 2027 date: $17.60 an hour from April 1, 2027, after $17.30 an hour from October 1, 2026. Nunavut is not sourced: the Government of Nunavut site refused plain curl, no archive capture was available, and the Labour Standards Act on nunavutlegislation.ca prints only a floor of $13 an hour and the prescribed rate, not the rate.
Paid statutory holidays are covered separately on statutory holidays 2027 in Canada, and the employer contribution ceilings that apply to wages are on CPP and EI maximums 2026. All Canada pages are indexed on the Canada hub.
Alberta minimum wage
The Government of Alberta's page, fetched November 5, 2026, lists these rates in its own table, "Minimum wage rates":
| Type of employee | Minimum wage |
|---|---|
| Most employees (general minimum wage) | $15/hour |
| Students under 18 | $13/hour (restrictions apply) |
| Salespersons (including land agents and certain professionals) | $598/week |
| Domestic employees (living in their employer’s home) | $2,848/month |
The page prints no effective date for the $15 rate and no later rate.
“Employers must pay at least the minimum wage.
The current general minimum wage applies to all employees, with the exception of students under 18.
A job creation student wage was implemented June 26, 2019. Restrictions apply.
Wages don’t include tips or expense money.
There are separate weekly and monthly minimum wages for some salespersons and domestic employees.”
Students under 18 (job creation student wage)
“The minimum wage for students under 18 is $13/hour. Employers can choose to pay students more than this minimum wage.
This rate applies to the first 28 hours worked in a week when school is in session. Students must be paid the general minimum wage of $15/hour for any hours exceeding 28 hours in one week. Overtime rules apply.”
“For example, a student who worked 30 hours in a week can be paid as low as $13/hour for the first 28 hours, but must be paid no less than $15/hour for the 2 additional hours they worked.
The job creation student wage of $13/hour applies to all regular hours worked when school is not in session, such as during spring break, Christmas break or during the summer vacation period. Overtime rules apply.”
“The job creation student wage applies to any student under 18 who attends school up to grade 12, post-secondary or vocational school.
The job creation student wage only applies to students enrolled in an educational institution and does not apply to youth who are out of school.”
Weekly and monthly rates
“Employees entitled to the weekly minimum wage rate earn $598 per week.
Eligible employees:
direct selling salesperson
commission salesperson (other than a route salesperson) selling goods that will be delivered later
[…]”
“For domestic employees who live in their employer’s homes: $2,848 per month.
For domestic employees who don’t live in their employer’s home: $15 per hour.
[…]
A domestic employee is a person employed to work in the employer’s residence, for the care, comfort and convenience of members of that residence. Casual babysitting isn’t considered domestic employment.”
Deductions and exempt occupations
“Employers can, with written authorization from the employee, reduce the employee’s wages below the minimum wage by a maximum of:
$4.41 for each day the employer provides the employee with lodging
$3.35 for each meal consumed by the employee; deductions can’t be made for meals not consumed”
“The following employees are exempt from minimum wage standards:
real estate brokers
securities salespersons
insurance salespersons paid entirely by commission
students in a work experience program approved by the Alberta government
students in an off-campus education program provided under the Education Act
extras in a film or video production
counsellors or instructors at a non-profit educational or recreational camp for children, handicapped individuals, or religious groups
municipal police service members
post-secondary academic staff”
“Part 2 of the Employment Standards Regulation sets the minimum wage for employees.
Disclaimer: In the event of any discrepancy between this information and Alberta Employment Standards legislation, the legislation is considered correct.”
Federal minimum wage
| In effect from | Federal minimum wage (per hour) |
|---|---|
| April 1, 2025 | $17.75 |
| April 1, 2026 | $18.15 |
“Effective April 1, 2025, the federal minimum wage is set at $17.75 per hour
Effective April 1, 2026, the federal minimum wage is set at $18.15 per hour”
“The federal minimum wage is adjusted annually on April 1 based on Canada’s annual average Consumer Price Index of the previous calendar year, which rose 2.1% in 2025, and rounded up to the nearest $0.05.
Employers in federally regulated private sectors are required to adjust their payrolls to ensure their employees are paid at least $18.15 per hour starting April 1, 2026.
Should the provincial or territorial minimum wage rate exceed the federal rate, federally regulated employers must pay their employees the higher of the two.”
“As an employee working for a federally regulated employer, you are entitled to receive at least the minimum wage. This also applies if you are an intern.
If the minimum wage set by the province or territory you are employed in is greater than the federal minimum wage, the provincial or territorial wage rate will apply to you.
If you are under the age of 18, the minimum wage also applies to you.”
“If you are registered under and paid according to a provincial apprenticeship act, your employer is exempt from the application of the minimum wage.”
“(2) If the minimum hourly rate that is fixed, from time to time, by or under an Act of the legislature of the province where the employee is usually employed and that is generally applicable regardless of occupation, status or work experience is higher than the minimum hourly rate fixed under subsection (1), an employer shall pay to each employee a wage at a rate that is
[…]”
“178.1 (1) Subject to subsection (2), the minimum hourly rate referred to in subsection 178(1) is $15.”
The 2027 federal rate had not been published in the sources we saved when we checked on November 5, 2026; Canada Labour Code section 178.1 adjusts the rate each April 1 using the consumer price index and rounds up to the nearest $0.05.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Alberta?
The Government of Alberta's minimum wage page, fetched November 5, 2026, lists $15 an hour as the general minimum wage for most employees. It lists other rates: students under 18, $13 an hour (for the first 28 hours worked in a week when school is in session, and for all regular hours when school is not in session), with restrictions; $598 a week for some salespersons; $2,848 a month for domestic employees who live in their employer's home. It also lists occupations exempt from minimum wage standards, such as real estate brokers and post-secondary academic staff, and says wages do not include tips or expense money. The page prints no effective date for the $15 rate and no later rate.
What is the Alberta student minimum wage and when does it apply?
According to the Government of Alberta's minimum wage page, fetched November 5, 2026, the job creation student wage is $13 an hour for students under 18 who attend school up to grade 12, post-secondary or vocational school. It applies to the first 28 hours worked in a week when school is in session; hours over 28 in that week must be paid at least the general minimum wage of $15 an hour. When school is not in session, for example spring break, Christmas break or summer vacation, the $13 rate applies to all regular hours. It does not apply to youth who are out of school, employers may pay more, and overtime rules apply.
What is the federal minimum wage in Canada?
The Government of Canada's federal labour standards page (dated 2026-04-01) sets the federal minimum wage at $18.15 an hour from April 1, 2026, up from $17.75 an hour from April 1, 2025. It applies to federally regulated employers. Where the minimum wage set by the province or territory is greater, that provincial or territorial rate applies instead, and the page says employers are exempt where an employee is registered under and paid according to a provincial apprenticeship act. Under Canada Labour Code section 178.1 the rate is adjusted each April 1 by consumer price index; when we checked on November 5, 2026, no 2027 federal rate had been published in the sources we saved.
Which province has the highest and the lowest general minimum wage?
Nunavut is not in the comparison: we could not source its hourly rate. The Government of Nunavut site refused plain curl on November 5, 2026, and the Labour Standards Act on nunavutlegislation.ca says only that the rate is the greater of $13 an hour and the prescribed rate, without printing the prescribed rate. Among the other provinces and territories whose rate we could source on November 5, 2026, the highest general rate in our table is Yukon at $18.51 an hour and the lowest is Alberta at $15.00 an hour. These are general rates only: several sources name other rates or exemptions (for example students, homeworkers or tipped workers), and the Yukon figure is from a copy archived on July 17, 2026.
When do Canadian minimum wage rates change?
The dates in our table, as the saved sources print them, are: April 1, 2026: the federal rate, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon; May 1, 2026: Quebec; June 1, 2026: British Columbia; September 1, 2026: Northwest Territories; October 1, 2026: Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan. The Alberta page we saved prints no effective date. British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, Yukon and the federal government adjust by formula or index each year, but their sources do not print the next amount, so none is shown. Ontario's page says the rates are subject to annual indexation based on the rate of inflation, with a changed rate published on or before April 1 and taking effect on October 1 (the rates from October 1, 2026 run to September 30, 2027). The Northwest Territories adjusts each September 1 by formula, but its July 31, 2026 announcement says further public engagement will occur to help inform decisions about the minimum wage for 2027, so no 2027 rate is shown. These are general rates; the sources name exceptions.
Is there a 2027 minimum wage in Canada?
When we checked on November 5, 2026, only Prince Edward Island's Minimum Wage Order EC2026-379 (March 31, 2026) set a general rate with a 2027 date: $17.60 an hour from April 1, 2027, after $17.30 from October 1, 2026. The Northwest Territories' July 31, 2026 announcement says further public engagement will occur to help inform decisions about the minimum wage for 2027, so it shows no 2027 rate. The other sources we saved printed no 2027 rate, so none is shown; Nunavut could not be sourced. These are general rates and exceptions in each province's source still apply.
Does everyone get the general minimum wage?
No. Each source we saved names other rates or exemptions. Alberta lists a student wage of $13 an hour for those under 18 (first 28 hours in a week when school is in session, all regular hours when school is not in session), weekly and monthly rates for some employees and exempt occupations. Ontario lists student, homeworker, and hunting, fishing and wilderness guide rates. Quebec has a separate minimum tipped wage rate. Nova Scotia has separate orders for construction and property maintenance and for logging and forest operations. Manitoba excludes some groups. Saskatchewan says some employees do not have to be paid the minimum wage. British Columbia and New Brunswick have special rates for some industries. The federal page says a higher provincial rate applies to federally regulated employees. The table shows the general rate only.
More Canada pages
Sources
Government pages were fetched with plain curl on November 5, 2026. Where a site refused plain curl, we used an exact Internet Archive capture and word it "as archived on" its date. The Government of Nunavut site refused plain curl on November 5, 2026 and no archive capture was available, so no Nunavut rate is shown.
- Government of Alberta: Minimum wage (fetched 2026-11-05)
- Government of Canada: Pay and minimum wage, deductions, and wage recovery (2026-04-01)
- Employment and Social Development Canada: news release, March 24, 2026 (2026-03-24)
- Canada Labour Code, section 178 (Justice Laws Website) (act current to 2026-10-19)
- Canada Labour Code, section 178.1 (Justice Laws Website) (act current to 2026-10-19)
- Government of British Columbia: Minimum wage (last updated June 1, 2026; as archived on October 25, 2026, Internet Archive capture 20261025000541)
- Government of Manitoba: What is minimum wage? (fetched 2026-11-05)
- Government of New Brunswick: Minimum wage, overtime and minimum pay for reporting for work (archived copy; as archived on November 2, 2026, Internet Archive capture 20261102220038)
- Government of Newfoundland and Labrador: news release, February 26, 2026 (2026-02-26)
- Newfoundland and Labrador Statistics Agency: Minimum Wage Rates for Employees, 1953 to 2026 (dated 2026-03-02)
- Government of the Northwest Territories, Education, Culture and Employment: Minimum wage (fetched 2026-11-05)
- Government of the Northwest Territories: public service announcement, July 31, 2026 (2026-07-31)
- Government of Nova Scotia: Minimum wage (fetched 2026-11-05)
- Government of Ontario: Minimum wage (fetched 2026-11-05)
- Prince Edward Island: Executive Council, Minimum Wage Order EC2026-379 (March 31, 2026) (2026-03-31)
- CNESST (Quebec): Minimum wage in Québec (archived copy; as archived on July 13, 2026, Internet Archive capture 20260713091954)
- Gouvernement du Québec: communiqué du 22 janvier 2026 (in French) (2026-01-22)
- Government of Saskatchewan: Minimum wage and reporting for duty pay (fetched 2026-11-05)
- Government of Yukon: Find the minimum wage in the Yukon (date modified 2026-02-05; as archived on July 17, 2026, Internet Archive capture 20260717235012)
- Nunavut Labour Standards Act, official consolidation (nunavutlegislation.ca) (consolidation marked not up to date)
FedRateCalc is not affiliated with the Government of Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency or any provincial or territorial government. Their pages are the official reference. This page gives no financial, tax or legal advice. Checked on November 5, 2026.