Minimum wage in Canada 2026: every province and territory
If you are checking your pay stub, planning a budget or deciding whether a job offer in another province makes sense, you need the current rate for where you work, not a national average. Several provinces moved on October 1, 2026, so older tables are already out of date. Below is each rate with its effective date and what is known about the next change, plus a calculator that turns an hourly wage into annual income.
On this page
Hourly to annual calculator
What does a minimum wage job pay over a year?
Gross pay before income tax, CPP, EI and any other deductions. It ignores overtime, vacation pay rules, tips and special rates. Rates are the general adult rate for each jurisdiction as listed below.
Minimum wage by province and territory
These are the general hourly rates for most adult employees, as published by each government. Each jurisdiction can also set separate rates for students, liquor servers, live-in workers or other groups.
| Jurisdiction | Rate per hour | In effect since | Next scheduled change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal (federally regulated employers) | $18.15 | April 1, 2026 | No later change announced on the source release |
| British Columbia | $18.25 | June 1, 2026 | Adjusted yearly by BC's all-items CPI; next rate not yet announced |
| Alberta | $15.00 | Current rate | No scheduled change listed on alberta.ca |
| Saskatchewan | $15.70 | October 1, 2026 | Indexed; changes are generally announced by June 30 and take effect October 1 |
| Manitoba | $16.40 | October 1, 2026 | Not yet announced |
| Ontario | $17.95 | October 1, 2026 | Adjusts October 1, 2027; rate published on or before April 1 |
| Quebec | $16.60 | May 1, 2026 | Not stated by the CNESST |
| New Brunswick | $15.90 | April 1, 2026 | Adjusted each April 1 using the provincial CPI; public consultation ran to October 9 |
| Nova Scotia | $17.00 | October 1, 2026 | No later increase listed; annual review |
| Prince Edward Island | $17.30 | October 1, 2026 | $17.60 on April 1, 2027 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.35 | April 1, 2026 | Not yet announced |
| Yukon | $18.51 | April 1, 2026 | Adjusted each April 1 using the CPI |
| Northwest Territories | $17.20 | September 1, 2026 | 2027 rate not set; annual formula continues |
| Nunavut | $20.17 | September 1, 2026 | Annual formula (Iqaluit CPI and average hourly wage) |
A few patterns stand out. The territories and British Columbia pay the most; Alberta, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick pay the least. Ontario's $17.95 and Nova Scotia's $17.00 are both new as of October 1, 2026. Prince Edward Island is the only jurisdiction here with its next rate already set by order: $17.60 on April 1, 2027.
The federal minimum wage
The Government of Canada raised the federal minimum wage to $18.15 an hour effective April 1, 2026. It applies only to employees of federally regulated businesses, such as banks, telecommunications, airlines, interprovincial trucking and shipping. Most workers, including most retail, restaurant and office jobs, fall under provincial or territorial rules instead.
What changes next
- Indexed annually: Ontario (October 1), Saskatchewan (October 1), New Brunswick (April 1), Yukon (April 1), British Columbia (yearly, tied to its CPI), and the Northwest Territories and Nunavut (formulas, effective September 1 this year).
- Already scheduled: Prince Edward Island moves to $17.60 on April 1, 2027.
- Unannounced: Manitoba, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador have not published a next rate in the sources used here. Quebec's current rate took effect May 1, 2026.
- Unchanged: Alberta's page lists $15.00 with no scheduled change.
New Brunswick held a public consultation on how its minimum wage is set, open until October 9, 2026, so its process could change. Treat any future figure as unknown until the province publishes it.
Worked example: hourly rate to annual income
Full-time is usually counted as 40 hours a week. Over 52 weeks that is 2,080 paid hours. Multiply the hourly rate by 2,080 for gross annual pay, then divide by 12 for a monthly figure.
| Jurisdiction | Rate | Annual, 40 h/week | Per month | Annual, 25 h/week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | $15.00 | 15.00 x 2,080 = $31,200 | $2,600 | $19,500 |
| Ontario | $17.95 | 17.95 x 2,080 = $37,336 | $3,111 | $23,335 |
| British Columbia | $18.25 | 18.25 x 2,080 = $37,960 | $3,163 | $23,725 |
| Nunavut | $20.17 | 20.17 x 2,080 = $41,954 | $3,496 | $26,221 |
The gap between Alberta and Nunavut on a full-time schedule is $10,754 a year before tax. Hours matter as much as the rate: 25 hours a week at Ontario's rate pays $23,335 a year, well below the $31,200 from 40 hours at Alberta's rate, so a full-time job at a lower rate can still out-earn a part-time job at a higher one.
Gross is not take-home
Every figure above is before deductions. Your cheque will also have income tax, CPP and EI taken off; our first paycheque deductions guide explains each line. Low-income workers may owe little or no income tax and can qualify for credits, but the exact amount depends on your situation. Whether you need to file at all is covered in filing taxes on a low income.
If the number feels tight, a budget built on take-home pay is the next step. Start with how to budget in Canada, then see how to stop living paycheque to paycheque and find small leaks with money leaks you may be missing. Calculators are on the tools page.
Special rates and rules to check
- Student and other rates: Ontario lists $16.90 an hour for students under 18 working 28 hours a week or less, plus separate rates for homeworkers ($19.70) and certain guides.
- Which rules apply: A job at a bank branch or airline is federal; a job at a restaurant is provincial. Ask your employer or check your province's employment standards office if unsure.
- Pay below the minimum: Employers cannot generally pay below the applicable minimum. If you think you are underpaid, contact your provincial employment standards office.
- Rates change in-year: Many provinces update on April 1 or October 1, so confirm the date on your official page before relying on a figure.
Questions people ask
What is the minimum wage in Canada in 2026?
There is no single national rate. Each province and territory sets its own, from $15.00 in Alberta to $20.17 in Nunavut. The federal minimum wage, which covers federally regulated employers, is $18.15 an hour since April 1, 2026.
Which province has the highest minimum wage in 2026?
Among provinces, British Columbia is highest at $18.25 an hour as of June 1, 2026. Yukon ($18.51) and Nunavut ($20.17) are higher among the territories.
Which province has the lowest minimum wage?
Alberta, at $15.00 an hour for most employees, according to alberta.ca. New Brunswick ($15.90) and Saskatchewan ($15.70) are the next lowest.
What is the federal minimum wage in 2026?
$18.15 an hour, effective April 1, 2026, according to the Government of Canada. It applies to employees of federally regulated employers such as banks, airlines and interprovincial transport, not to most workers.
When does Ontario's minimum wage change next?
Ontario raised its general minimum wage to $17.95 on October 1, 2026. Ontario.ca says rates are adjusted yearly, with the new rate published on or before April 1 and taking effect October 1, so the next change is due October 1, 2027.
Is there a lower minimum wage for students or tipped workers?
Some jurisdictions have special rates. Ontario, for example, sets $16.90 an hour for students under 18 working 28 hours a week or less. Check your province's employment standards page for the rate that applies to your job.
How much is a full-time minimum wage job worth per year?
At 40 hours a week for 52 weeks (2,080 hours), multiply the hourly rate by 2,080. At Ontario's $17.95 that is $37,336 before tax, deductions and unpaid time off.
Looni reads your statements and flags fees, subscriptions and interest charges, so more of each paycheque stays yours. Read-only, no advice.
Sources
Government of Canada, federal minimum wage news release (March 2026: $18.15 from April 1, 2026). Provincial and territorial pages: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec (CNESST), New Brunswick and its 2026 consultation notice, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island (Order EC2026-379), Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The annual income arithmetic is ours.