Vacation pay · Alberta
Alberta vacation pay.
How much vacation pay you are owed in Alberta, and how many weeks of vacation time your years of service entitle you to.
Alberta gives two weeks of vacation and 4% vacation pay from one year of employment, rising to three weeks and 6% after five consecutive years with the same employer.
Alberta excludes overtime pay, general holiday pay, tips and unearned bonuses from the wages vacation pay is calculated on, which makes the base smaller than in several other provinces.
Inputs
Your vacation entitlement
Fill the form and press Calculate.
How Alberta vacation entitlement steps up
| Length of service | Vacation time | Vacation pay |
|---|---|---|
| From the first year up to 5 years | 2 weeks | 4% |
| 5 years and over | 3 weeks | 6% |
You must complete one year of employment before you are entitled to vacation time at all. Vacation must be taken within the 12 months after it is earned. If employment ends before the first year is complete, the employer pays 4% of the wages earned during employment.
Source, last verified 2 September 2026: Alberta.ca — Vacation pay.
Frequently asked questions
How much vacation pay does Alberta require?
4% of wages for employees with one to four years of service, and 6% after five consecutive years with the same employer.
An employee with less than a year still earns 4%, paid out on termination even though the vacation time itself is not yet available.
When do I get three weeks of vacation in Alberta?
After five consecutive years of employment with the same employer. Vacation time goes from two weeks to three and vacation pay from 4% to 6% together.
Time on a job-protected leave counts toward the length of employment for this purpose.
Does overtime count toward Alberta vacation pay?
No. Alberta calculates vacation pay on wages paid for work, and expressly excludes overtime pay, general holiday pay, termination pay, unearned bonuses, tips and gratuities, and expenses and allowances.
That is a narrower base than Saskatchewan, which does include overtime, so the same gross earnings produce different vacation pay in the two provinces.
How is vacation pay worked out for a monthly salary in Alberta?
Salaried employees paid monthly are simply paid their regular rate during the vacation. Each week of vacation is calculated as the monthly wage divided by 4.3333.
The percentage method applies to hourly, weekly, commission and incentive-paid employees.
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. Vacation entitlement in Alberta is set by Alberta Employment Standards.
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.