Minimum wage · British Columbia
British Columbia minimum wage.
What British Columbia employers must pay per hour in 2026, and what that comes to per week, per pay period and per year.
British Columbia's minimum wage is $18.25 an hour as of 1 June 2026 — the highest general provincial minimum wage in Canada.
There is no student rate and no liquor server rate. Online platform workers have a higher minimum of $21.89 for engaged time, plus a per-kilometre distance allowance.
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British Columbia minimum wage rates in 2026
| Rate | Amount | In effect from |
|---|---|---|
| General minimum wage | $18.25/hour | 1 June 2026 |
| Online platform worker, for engaged time (plus a distance allowance of $0.35/km for delivery or $0.45/km for ride-hail) | $21.89/hour | 1 June 2026 |
| Live-in camp leader, per day or part day worked | $145.64 per day | 1 June 2026 |
| Live-in home support worker, per day or part day worked | $135.88 per day | 1 June 2026 |
| Resident caretaker of a building with 61 or more suites, per month | $3,719.96 per month | 1 June 2026 |
British Columbia has no student or youth rate and no liquor server rate — since 1 June 2021 liquor servers are paid the general minimum wage in addition to their tips. Since June 2024 the minimum wage rises every 1 June by the same percentage as the B.C. All-Items Consumer Price Index, rounded to the nearest five cents; if the index falls, the rate holds. Caretakers of buildings with 9 to 60 suites are paid $1,092.10 a month plus $43.75 per suite.
Source, last verified 2 September 2026: Government of B.C. — Minimum wage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in BC?
$18.25 an hour since 1 June 2026 — the highest general minimum wage of any Canadian province.
The rate rises every 1 June by the same percentage as the B.C. All-Items Consumer Price Index, rounded to the nearest five cents. If the index falls, the rate stays where it is.
Do liquor servers in BC have a lower minimum wage?
No. Since 1 June 2021 liquor servers must be paid the regular minimum wage for hours worked, on top of any tips or gratuities they receive.
That currently means $18.25 an hour, the same as every other employee on the general rate.
Is there a student or youth minimum wage in BC?
No. B.C. has no student rate, no youth rate and no training rate. Age and school enrolment make no difference to the minimum wage.
The province does set separate minimums for particular kinds of work — live-in camp leaders, live-in home support workers, resident caretakers and online platform workers — but none of them is an age-based discount.
What is the minimum wage for gig workers in BC?
Online platform workers must be paid at least $21.89 an hour for engaged time — the time from accepting an assignment to completing it — plus a distance allowance of $0.35 a kilometre for delivery or $0.45 for ride-hail.
The higher hourly figure reflects that only engaged time is paid, not the waiting time between assignments.
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. Minimum wage in British Columbia is set by the B.C. Employment Standards Branch and can change on a fixed indexation date.
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.