Minimum wage · the federal jurisdiction
the federal jurisdiction minimum wage.
What the federal jurisdiction employers must pay per hour in 2026, and what that comes to per week, per pay period and per year.
The federal minimum wage is $18.15 an hour as of 1 April 2026 — or the minimum wage of the province or territory you work in, if that one is higher.
It covers federally regulated work: banks, airlines and airports, interprovincial road and rail transport, shipping, telecoms and broadcasting, and federal Crown corporations.
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the federal jurisdiction minimum wage rates in 2026
| Rate | Amount | In effect from |
|---|---|---|
| General minimum wage | $18.15/hour | 1 April 2026 |
The federal minimum wage is a floor, not a ceiling: if the minimum wage of the province or territory you work in is higher, that rate applies to you instead. As of today that means $18.51 in Yukon and $20.17 in Nunavut, but $18.15 in the Northwest Territories and in every province whose rate is below the federal figure. Increases are based on Canada’s Consumer Price Index for the previous calendar year and take effect each 1 April. This applies to federally regulated industries, federal Crown corporations, and certain Indigenous government activities on First Nations reserves.
Source, last verified 2 September 2026: Government of Canada — Pay and deductions, federal labour standards.
Frequently asked questions
What is the federal minimum wage?
$18.15 an hour as of 1 April 2026, for employees in federally regulated industries and workplaces.
Increases are based on Canada’s Consumer Price Index for the previous calendar year and take effect each 1 April.
Which minimum wage applies if the provincial one is higher?
The provincial or territorial one. The rule is stated directly: if the minimum wage set by the province or territory you are employed in is greater than the federal minimum wage, the provincial or territorial rate applies to you.
Today that means a federally regulated employee gets $18.51 in Yukon and $20.17 in Nunavut, but the federal $18.15 in the Northwest Territories, where the territorial rate is lower.
Who is federally regulated?
Banks, airlines and airports, interprovincial and international road and rail transport, marine shipping, telecommunications and broadcasting, grain elevators, uranium mining, and federal Crown corporations.
Certain Indigenous government activities on First Nations reserves are also covered. If you are not in one of these, your provincial or territorial employment standards apply instead.
Does the federal minimum wage have special rates?
No. There is no student rate, youth rate or server rate under the Canada Labour Code.
The only variation is the higher-of rule, which substitutes a higher provincial or territorial rate where one exists.
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 the federal jurisdiction is set by the Labour Program at Employment and Social Development Canada 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.