Student jobs in British Columbia: pay, the age 16 rule, and where to find work near your school
British Columbia pays the highest provincial minimum wage in Canada, $18.25 an hour since June 1, 2026, and there is no lower student rate. The general working age is 16. At 14 and 15 you can do "light work" with a parent's written consent and capped hours. Metro Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna have the most student openings, with Whistler and the Okanagan adding seasonal jobs.
What students earn in BC
BC's general minimum wage is $18.25 per hour, effective June 1, 2026. Unlike Alberta and Ontario, BC does not have a separate student or youth minimum wage. A 15 year old bussing tables earns at least the same hourly minimum as a 40 year old. The rate rises each June 1 by the same percentage as the BC consumer price index, so expect a new figure every summer.
That high floor shapes the market. BC employers tend to hire fewer, more reliable part timers and expect you to show up. The upside is that even a 12 hour week at a grocery store pays more than $200 before deductions. Tips in restaurants and cafes sit on top of the wage, not inside it.
Minimum working age in BC: the 2021 change
BC rewrote its child employment rules in 2021. The general working age is now 16, with a defined set of light jobs available at 14 and 15.
| Age | What is allowed | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Under 14 | Generally not permitted | Needs permission from the Director of Employment Standards, except narrow cases such as entertainment work |
| 14 to 15 | Light work only: stocking shelves, price tagging, bussing tables, dishwashing, admin and reception, delivering flyers or food, camp assistant, coaching | Written consent from a parent or guardian, supervision by an adult 19 or older, max 4 hours on a school day, 20 hours in a school week, 7 hours on a non-school day and 35 hours a week when school is out |
| 16 to 17 | Most jobs | Barred from hazardous work such as tree falling, chainsaw operation and production lines in fish, poultry or meat processing |
| 18 and over | Any job | None |
Source: Hiring young people, Government of British Columbia.
What "light work" excludes matters as much as what it includes. A 15 year old can wash dishes but cannot run a deep fryer, and can stock shelves but cannot operate a forklift. If a manager asks you to do something outside the list before your 16th birthday, you can say no, and the employer, not you, is the one breaking the rules.
Where students find jobs in British Columbia
BC's population is concentrated in the Lower Mainland, and so are its student jobs. The Campus Atlas page for British Columbia shows live openings city by city; here is how the regions differ.
Vancouver, Burnaby and Richmond
Downtown Vancouver, Metrotown, Richmond Centre and the Broadway corridor are dense with cafes, bubble tea shops, retail and restaurants that lean on students. UBC, SFU and BCIT post food service, library and recreation roles every term, and a job three SkyTrain stops away is a realistic commute.
Surrey, Langley and the Fraser Valley
Surrey's retail and warehouse employers hire a lot of 16 to 19 year olds, especially around Guildford, Central City and the big box clusters along King George Boulevard. Abbotsford and Chilliwack add farm market work in summer.
Victoria and the Island
Victoria's tourism season runs May to September, and the Inner Harbour, whale watching operators, hotels and gardens hire students in volume. Nanaimo has a smaller, steady retail market.
Kelowna, Kamloops and Whistler
The Okanagan has fruit picking and packing from June to October, plus a strong summer tourism trade around Kelowna's waterfront. Whistler hires for both the winter ski season and summer bike park, and some employers offer staff housing, which is why many 18 and 19 year olds from across BC spend a gap season there.
Typical first jobs in BC
The light work list drives the under 16 market: bussing, dishwashing, shelf stocking and flyer delivery are where most 14 and 15 year olds start. From 16, the range widens to cashier, barista, quick service crew, lifeguard, day camp leader, movie theatre attendant and grocery clerk. By 17 and 18, warehouse picking, landscaping, golf course work and tourism roles pay well above the minimum.
One BC specific: ski hills from Grouse and Cypress on the North Shore to Big White and Sun Peaks hire seasonal staff each November, many of them students on a weekend schedule.
Finding jobs near your school with Campus Atlas
Campus Atlas maps high schools, colleges, universities and youth centres across BC to the live jobs in their city. Open the British Columbia page, choose your school, and you get a short list of openings you can actually commute to, each with the hourly wage shown. It works for a Surrey secondary school, Camosun College or a Prince George youth centre.
If you do not have a resume yet, the free Resume Builder turns volunteering, sports and school projects into a one page document in about ten minutes. For a broader search across the whole province, use the full job listing and filter by city.
Find live student jobs near your BC school on Campus Atlas (free, wages shown on every listing).
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to work in BC?
The general working age in British Columbia is 16. At 14 and 15 you can do light work such as stocking shelves, bussing tables or delivering flyers, but only with written consent from a parent and under adult supervision, with capped hours. Under 14, you need permission from the Director of Employment Standards, which is rarely granted outside entertainment.
Is there a student minimum wage in BC?
No. British Columbia has a single general minimum wage of $18.25 an hour as of June 1, 2026, and it applies to students and young workers the same as everyone else. The rate is adjusted every June 1 in line with the BC consumer price index, so check the provincial employment standards page for the current figure before you negotiate.
How many hours can a 15 year old work in BC?
A 14 or 15 year old doing light work can work up to 4 hours on a school day and 20 hours in a week with five school days. On non-school days the limit is 7 hours, and when school is not in session the cap is 35 hours a week. Work must be supervised by someone 19 or older.
Which BC cities have the most student jobs?
Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby and Richmond have the largest number of part time and student openings, mostly in retail, food service and grocery. Victoria peaks in the summer tourism season, Kelowna adds orchard and lakeside work, and Whistler hires for ski and bike park seasons. The Campus Atlas BC page shows the live count for each city.
Sources
- Minimum wage, Government of British Columbia
- Hiring young people, Government of British Columbia
- Employment Standards Act, Part 2, Section 9: Hiring children, Government of British Columbia
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.
