Minimum wage by province in Canada for young workers (October 2026)

As of October 1, 2026, general minimum wages across Canada range from $15.00 an hour in Alberta to $20.17 in Nunavut. Only two provinces pay students less: Ontario's student rate is $16.90 for workers under 18, and Alberta's is $13.00. Everywhere else a 15 year old earns the same minimum as an adult. The table below lists every province and territory, verified against the official page for each.

Minimum wage in every province and territory

Rates are the general hourly minimum for most employees. Where a province has a separate student, youth or tipped rate it is listed in the third column; "None" means young workers get the general rate.

Sources: Alberta; British Columbia; Manitoba; New Brunswick; Newfoundland and Labrador; Nova Scotia; Ontario; Prince Edward Island; Quebec; Saskatchewan; Northwest Territories; Nunavut; Yukon. All checked October 1, 2026.

The two student rates explained

Ontario

Ontario's student minimum wage of $16.90 applies to workers under 18 who work 28 hours a week or less while school is in session, or who work during a school holiday such as summer. If you are under 18 and work more than 28 hours in a school week, the general rate of $17.95 applies to all your hours that week, not just the extra ones. Employers may pay the student rate but do not have to, and many retailers and restaurants pay everyone the general rate.

Alberta

Alberta's job creation student wage is $13.00 for students under 18 enrolled in school, up to grade 12 or in post-secondary or vocational programs. During the school year it covers your first 28 hours in a week, and hours past 28 must be paid at $15.00. During summer, spring break and the winter holidays it can cover all regular hours. It does not apply to under 18s who are not in school.

Because both rates are optional for employers, always ask which rate a job pays before you accept. YouthBoard shows the hourly wage on every listing, and the Campus Atlas shows live openings around your school with their posted wages. If a higher paying employer wants a resume, the free Resume Builder makes one in minutes.

Quebec's tipped rate

Quebec is the only province with a lower minimum wage for tipped employees, $13.30 compared with the general $16.60. It applies to workers in restaurants, bars, meal delivery and tourist accommodation who regularly receive tips, and tips are on top of that hourly rate, never counted towards it. Ontario no longer has a separate liquor server rate, so servers there get the general minimum.

The federal minimum wage

If you work in a federally regulated industry, such as banks, airlines, interprovincial trucking or telecommunications, a separate federal minimum wage applies: $18.15 as of April 1, 2026. Where a province's rate is higher, as in Nunavut, Yukon and British Columbia, you get the higher one. Most student jobs are provincially regulated, so the table above applies.

When minimum wages change

Most jurisdictions raise their minimum wage automatically each year, tied to inflation, on a fixed date. Knowing the date tells you when to check your pay stub:

• April 1: New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Yukon and the federal rate. PEI has already announced $17.60 for April 1, 2027.
• May 1: Quebec.
• June 1: British Columbia.
• September 1: Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
• October 1: Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and a second step in Nova Scotia and PEI in 2026.
• Alberta has no automatic adjustment; its rate has sat at $15.00 for several years and changes only when the government decides.

Your employer must apply the new rate from the effective date without you asking. If your first pay after that date still shows the old rate, raise it with your manager and, if needed, the provincial employment standards office. Our guide to your first paycheque shows where to find the hourly rate on a pay stub, and rights for workers under 18 covers what to do when something is wrong.

Browse live youth jobs on YouthBoard (free, wages shown on every listing).

What minimum wage does not include

Tips are extra in every province. Training time and mandatory meetings must be paid at least minimum wage in most provinces, and several provinces require a minimum number of paid hours when you are called in and sent home early. Deductions for CPP, EI and income tax come off after the wage is calculated, so your take home is lower than the hourly rate times hours.

Frequently asked questions

Which province has the highest minimum wage in Canada?

Nunavut, at $20.17 an hour since September 1, 2026, followed by Yukon at $18.51 and British Columbia at $18.25. The federal rate for federally regulated industries is $18.15. Among the provinces, Ontario at $17.95 and Prince Edward Island at $17.30 come next. Alberta has the lowest general rate at $15.00, unchanged for several years, and also allows a $13.00 student rate.

Is there a student minimum wage in Canada?

Only in Ontario and Alberta. Ontario pays students under 18 at least $16.90 if they work 28 hours or less in a school week or during school breaks. Alberta allows $13.00 for students under 18 for the first 28 hours in a school week and all hours on breaks. Every other province and territory pays young workers the same general minimum wage as adults. Both student rates are optional for employers.

When does minimum wage go up in Ontario?

October 1 each year. Ontario indexes its minimum wage to inflation, publishes the new rate by April 1 and applies it from October 1. On October 1, 2026 the general rate rose to $17.95 and the student rate to $16.90. Your employer must pay the new rate from that date automatically; if your pay stub still shows the old rate afterwards, raise it with your manager.

Do servers in Canada get a lower minimum wage?

Only in Quebec, where employees who regularly receive tips have a minimum of $13.30 compared with the general $16.60, with tips paid on top. Every other province and territory pays servers and bartenders the full general minimum wage plus tips, and Ontario no longer has a separate liquor server rate. In all provinces, tips can never be counted towards meeting the minimum wage.

Sources

• Ontario minimum wage, Government of Ontario
• Alberta minimum wage, Government of Alberta
• Quebec minimum wage, CNESST
• Government of Canada raises the federal minimum wage, Employment and Social Development Canada
• All 13 provincial and territorial pages linked directly under the table above

Disclaimer

This article is general information for young job seekers, not legal, financial or employment advice. Minimum wages, minimum working ages, hours limits and program rules change, often on April 1 or October 1, and they differ by province and territory. Always confirm the current rules with your provincial or territorial government, the employment standards office, or the relevant federal department before relying on them. YouthBoard makes every effort to keep articles accurate, but they may contain errors or be out of date, and we accept no liability for any loss or decision made based on this content. If you spot something wrong, tell us and we will fix it.