Student jobs in New Brunswick: pay, the under 16 hour limits, and the cities that hire
New Brunswick's minimum wage is $15.90 an hour as of April 1, 2026, and students earn the same rate as adults. The province sets no single minimum working age; instead, workers under 16 are capped at 6 hours a day and 3 hours on a school day, and workers under 14 are kept out of restaurants, hotels, construction and a few other industries. Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton have the most openings.
New Brunswick minimum wage for students
The minimum wage in New Brunswick is $15.90 per hour, effective April 1, 2026. There is no student, youth or training rate, so a 15 year old stocking shelves earns the same hourly minimum as anyone else. The rate is indexed to the New Brunswick consumer price index and moves every April 1, which means the figure you see here will be replaced each spring. The province's employment standards wage page always carries the current number.
Because the floor is lower than in Ontario or BC, wage differences between employers matter more here. A Moncton warehouse paying $18 against a cafe paying $15.90 is a 13 percent gap on the same hours. YouthBoard puts the wage on every listing so you can see that gap before you apply.
Age rules: what changes at 14 and 16
New Brunswick does not name an age at which you are "allowed" to work. It restricts what younger workers can do and for how long, and the rules relax in two steps.
| Age | Where you can work | Hour limits |
|---|---|---|
| Under 14 | Not in forestry, construction, industrial undertakings, automotive service, hotels, restaurants, theatres or dance halls (a permit from Employment Standards can allow exceptions with parental consent) | Max 6 hours a day, max 3 hours on a school day, no work during school hours, no work 10 pm to 6 am |
| 14 to 15 | Most workplaces, including restaurants and hotels | Same limits as above: 6 hours a day, 3 hours on a school day, nothing between 10 pm and 6 am |
| 16 and over | Any workplace permitted under health and safety law | No youth specific limits |
Source: Employers reminded of rules of employing children under 16, Government of New Brunswick.
The 3 hour school day rule is the one to plan around. A 15 year old in Fredericton can take a 3 to 6 pm shift on a Tuesday but not a 4 to 9 pm closing shift. Saturdays and school holidays allow 6 hours. If an employer schedules you past those limits, the employer is the one in breach, and Employment Standards investigates complaints from workers of any age.
Where students find jobs in New Brunswick
The three cities account for most of the province's part time work, with a seasonal tourism layer on top. The Campus Atlas page for New Brunswick shows the live openings for each city.
Moncton and Dieppe
Moncton is the retail and distribution hub of the Maritimes. Champlain Place, the Trinity Drive big box corridor and the Magnetic Hill area hire students year round, and summer adds Magic Mountain, the zoo and the Casino. Bilingual applicants have a real advantage here: many customer facing jobs ask for French and English, and a bilingual 16 year old is often hired ahead of an older unilingual applicant.
Saint John
Uptown restaurants, the cruise ship season from May to October, East Point and McAllister Place retail, and the Irving owned grocery and convenience network all hire young workers. UNB Saint John and NBCC post campus roles each term.
Fredericton
Fredericton's two universities create a steady market for cafe, retail and campus work, and the city's trail system, pools and Harvest festival add summer roles. Regent Mall and the downtown core are the main clusters.
Smaller centres and the coast
Bathurst, Miramichi, Edmundston and Campbellton have fewer openings but far fewer applicants per job. The Fundy coast, Shediac and the Acadian Peninsula hire for campgrounds, seafood restaurants and beach concessions from June to September, and blueberry and farm work opens up in late summer.
Typical first jobs in New Brunswick
- Coffee shop and quick service counter work (14 and up, within the 6 hour limit)
- Grocery clerk or cashier at Sobeys, Superstore or Co-op
- Lifeguard or swim instructor at municipal pools and lakes
- Summer camp counsellor and day camp leader
- Tourism roles: campground attendant, gift shop, tour and attraction staff
- Rink attendant and canteen worker during hockey season
- Retail associate at Champlain Place or Regent Mall, with hiring peaks in October and May
Finding jobs near your school with Campus Atlas
Campus Atlas lists New Brunswick's high schools, colleges, universities and youth centres and connects each one to the live jobs in its city. Open the New Brunswick page, pick your school, and you see openings you can reach after class with the hourly wage beside each one. It works for an Anglophone or Francophone high school, a NBCC or CCNB campus, or a youth centre in a smaller town.
If you are applying for the first time, the free Resume Builder turns school activities and volunteering into a one page resume. For a province wide view, the full job listing lets you filter by city and job type.
See live student jobs near New Brunswick schools on Campus Atlas (free, wages shown on every listing).
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to work in New Brunswick?
New Brunswick does not set one minimum working age. Workers under 14 cannot be employed in restaurants, hotels, construction, forestry, automotive service, theatres or industrial workplaces without a permit. Workers under 16 are limited to 6 hours a day and 3 hours on a school day. From 16, the youth specific limits end.
What is the minimum wage in New Brunswick for students?
The minimum wage in New Brunswick is $15.90 an hour as of April 1, 2026, and students receive the same rate as adults. There is no student or youth minimum wage. The rate is adjusted every April 1 based on the provincial consumer price index, so check the Government of New Brunswick wage page for the current figure.
Can a 15 year old work at a restaurant in New Brunswick?
Yes. Restaurant and hotel work is restricted for workers under 14, but a 14 or 15 year old can be employed there as long as the hour limits are respected: no more than 6 hours a day, 3 hours on a school day, nothing during school hours and nothing between 10 pm and 6 am.
Which New Brunswick cities have the most student jobs?
Moncton and Dieppe have the largest number of part time and student openings, driven by retail, distribution and tourism, and bilingual applicants are in demand there. Saint John and Fredericton follow, each with university campuses and downtown restaurant and retail clusters. Coastal towns add seasonal tourism work from June to September.
Sources
- Minimum wage, overtime and minimum pay for reporting for work, Government of New Brunswick
- Employers reminded of rules of employing children under 16, Government of New Brunswick
- Minimum wage to increase to $15.90 per hour, Government of New Brunswick
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.
