Minimum wage · Canada
Minimum wage by province.
Every Canadian minimum wage for 2026, what it pays over a week, a pay period and a year, and whether your own rate is above it.
Canada has no single minimum wage. Each province and territory sets its own, and federally regulated work has a federal rate that applies unless the local one is higher.
The spread is wide: Nunavut is highest at $20.17 an hour and Alberta is lowest at $15.00 — a gap of $5.17 an hour, or about $10,753.60 a year on a 40-hour week.
Inputs
Minimum you must be paid
Fill the form and press Calculate.
Minimum wage by province and territory, 2026
| Jurisdiction | Rate | In effect from | Next increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nunavut | $20.17 | 1 September 2026 | — |
| Yukon | $18.51 | 1 April 2026 | — |
| British Columbia | $18.25 | 1 June 2026 | — |
| Federal (Canada Labour Code) | $18.15 | 1 April 2026 | — |
| Ontario | $17.60 | 1 October 2025 | $17.95 on 1 October 2026 |
| Northwest Territories | $17.20 | 1 September 2026 | — |
| Prince Edward Island | $17.00 | 1 April 2026 | $17.30 on 1 October 2026 |
| Nova Scotia | $16.75 | 1 April 2026 | $17.00 on 1 October 2026 |
| Quebec | $16.60 | 1 May 2026 | — |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.35 | 1 April 2026 | — |
| Manitoba | $16.00 | 1 October 2025 | $16.40 on 1 October 2026 |
| New Brunswick | $15.90 | 1 April 2026 | — |
| Saskatchewan | $15.35 | 1 October 2025 | $15.70 on 1 October 2026 |
| Alberta | $15.00 | 1 October 2018 | — |
Sources, last verified 2 September 2026: each rate links to that jurisdiction’s own page, which cites the employment standards authority that sets it. Also on this site: vacation pay, statutory holiday pay, overtime pay, Ontario severance pay and EI benefits.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Canada?
There is no single Canadian minimum wage. Each province and territory sets its own, and federally regulated workplaces have a federal rate of $18.15 that applies unless the provincial or territorial rate is higher.
As of 2 September 2026 the highest is Nunavut at $20.17 an hour and the lowest is Alberta at $15.00.
Which province has the highest minimum wage?
Nunavut, at $20.17 an hour. Among the provinces specifically, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island are at the top.
The territories run high because the cost of living does, and because both Nunavut and the Northwest Territories index their rates to local prices and local average wages rather than to a national figure.
Which province has the lowest minimum wage?
Alberta, at $15.00 an hour. It is the only jurisdiction in Canada that does not index its minimum wage, and the rate has not moved since 1 October 2018.
Every other jurisdiction now raises its rate on a fixed annual date, most of them by a formula tied to the Consumer Price Index.
Which minimum wage applies if I work for a bank or an airline?
The federal one — or the provincial or territorial one where you work, if that is higher. Federally regulated work covers banks, airlines and airports, interprovincial road and rail transport, marine shipping, telecommunications and broadcasting, and federal Crown corporations.
Everyone else is covered by the employment standards law of the province or territory they work in.
Estimate only — not legal advice
This calculator produces an estimate from the published employment-standards minimums. It is not legal advice and it is not a determination of what you are owed. Rates change on fixed annual dates, most commonly 1 April, 1 June, 1 September or 1 October.
Collective agreements, employment contracts, exemptions for your occupation, averaging agreements and permits can all change the answer. For a binding answer, contact the employment-standards office named above or a lawyer.