2026 current minimum wage by province
Here is a breakdown of the current minimum wages in Canada for 2026 as well as expected increases and when they will become effective. The current federal minimum wage is $17.75 which was effective April 1, 2025.
| Province | Minimum Hourly Wage |
|---|---|
| Alberta | $15.00 |
| British Columbia | $17.85 |
| Manitoba | $16.00 |
| New Brunswick | $15.65 |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | $16.00 |
| Northwest Territories | $16.70 |
| Nova Scotia | $16.50 |
| Nunavut | $19.00 |
| Ontario | $17.60 |
| Prince Edward Island | $16.50 |
| Quebec | $16.10 |
| Saskatchewan | $15.00 |
| Yukon | $17.94 |
The province/territory with the highest minimum wage is Nunavut with a minimum wage of $19.00 per hour. Yukon has the next highest minimum wage at $17.94 per hour with British Columbia in third with at $17.85 per hour.
Minimum wage increases for 2026
The following provinces and territories in Canada are expected to see the minimum wage increase in 2026.
- British Columbia: Effective June 1, 2025 the minimum wage is set to increase to $17.85 per hour.
- Manitoba: Effective October 1, 2025 the minimum wage will rise to $16.00 per hour.
- Nova Scotia: Effective October 1, 2025 the minimum wage will increase to $16.50 per hour.
- Ontario: Effective October 1, 2025 the minimum wage will increase to $17.60 per hour.
- Prince Edward Island: Effective October 1, 2025 the minimum wage will increase to $16.50 per hour.
Ontario minimum wage
The minimum wage in Ontario is currently $17.60 per hour which was effective October 1, 2025. This is the general minimum wage which applies to most employees in Ontario. This table shows the minimum wage history in Ontario.
| Date | Minimum Hourly Wage |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022 | $15.00 |
| October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023 | $15.50 |
| October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024 | $16.55 |
| October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025 | $17.20 |
| October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026 | $17.60 |
The student minimum wage in Ontario applies to students under the age of 18 years old who work 28 hours or less a week. The student minimum wage in Ontario is $16.60 per hour effective October 1, 2025.
How often does minimum wage change?
Minimum wage adjustments in Canada vary by province and territory. Some provinces review and adjust their minimum wage annually on a set date, such as Ontario which updates on October 1 each year. Several provinces, including British Columbia and Manitoba, have tied their minimum wage increases to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), meaning the wage automatically adjusts with inflation. Other provinces make changes on a less predictable schedule based on government policy decisions. The federal minimum wage, which applies to federally regulated industries, is also indexed to CPI and adjusts annually on April 1. To see how your hourly wage translates to an annual income, use our hourly to salary calculator.
Minimum wage and cost of living
While minimum wage rates have increased across Canada in recent years, the cost of living has also risen significantly. Whether minimum wage provides a livable income depends largely on where you live. In major cities like Toronto and Vancouver, housing costs alone can consume a substantial portion of a minimum wage earner’s income. Northern territories like Nunavut have higher minimum wages to offset the significantly higher cost of goods and services in remote communities. Understanding your take-home pay after taxes is just as important as knowing the gross hourly rate. Use our salary calculator to estimate your net pay and our income tax calculator to see how much tax you will owe on your earnings.
Annual salary at minimum wage by province
This table shows the approximate gross annual salary for a full-time worker (40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year) at the current minimum wage in each province and territory. Use our hourly to salary calculator for a personalized conversion.
| Province/Territory | Hourly Wage | Annual Gross Salary (40 hrs/wk) |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | $15.00 | $31,200 |
| British Columbia | $17.85 | $37,128 |
| Manitoba | $16.00 | $33,280 |
| New Brunswick | $15.65 | $32,552 |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | $16.00 | $33,280 |
| Northwest Territories | $16.70 | $34,736 |
| Nova Scotia | $16.50 | $34,320 |
| Nunavut | $19.00 | $39,520 |
| Ontario | $17.60 | $36,608 |
| Prince Edward Island | $16.50 | $34,320 |
| Quebec | $16.10 | $33,488 |
| Saskatchewan | $15.00 | $31,200 |
| Yukon | $17.94 | $37,315 |
| Federal | $17.75 | $36,920 |
Keep in mind these are gross figures before tax. Your actual take-home pay will be lower after deductions for federal and provincial income tax, CPP contributions, and EI premiums. Use our income tax calculator to estimate your net income, and see how your earnings compare to others with the income percentile calculator.
Federal minimum wage
The federal minimum wage in Canada is $17.75 per hour, effective April 1, 2025. This rate applies to employees in federally regulated industries, which include:
- Banking and financial services
- Telecommunications and broadcasting
- Interprovincial and international transportation (airlines, railways, trucking)
- Canada Post
- Federal Crown corporations
- First Nations band councils
The federal minimum wage is indexed to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and adjusts automatically on April 1 of each year. If a province or territory has a higher minimum wage than the federal rate, the higher rate applies to federally regulated workers in that jurisdiction.
Tipped minimum wage in Canada
Unlike the United States, most Canadian provinces do not have a separate lower minimum wage for tipped employees. Workers who receive tips or gratuities are generally entitled to the full provincial minimum wage.
The notable exception is Quebec, which has a tipped minimum wage of $12.60 per hour for employees who regularly receive tips (such as restaurant servers and bartenders). This is lower than Quebec’s general minimum wage of $16.10 per hour, with the expectation that tips will make up the difference.
All other provinces and territories pay tipped workers the same minimum wage as all other employees.
Minimum wage vs. living wage
The minimum wage and living wage are different concepts:
- Minimum wage — The legal minimum hourly rate employers must pay, set by provincial or federal legislation.
- Living wage — A voluntary benchmark calculated by organizations like the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, representing the hourly rate needed for a family to meet basic needs (housing, food, transportation, childcare) in a specific community.
Living wages are typically higher than minimum wages, especially in expensive cities:
| City | Minimum Wage | Estimated Living Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto, ON | $17.60 | $25.05 |
| Vancouver, BC | $17.85 | $25.68 |
| Calgary, AB | $15.00 | $22.40 |
| Halifax, NS | $16.50 | $22.55 |
| Montreal, QC | $16.10 | $20.00 |
| Winnipeg, MB | $16.00 | $19.21 |
Living wage estimates are updated regularly and vary by methodology and assumptions. The gap between minimum wage and living wage highlights the financial challenges faced by minimum wage workers, particularly in high-cost urban centres.
Historical federal minimum wage changes
The federal minimum wage has been adjusted as follows in recent years:
| Effective Date | Federal Minimum Wage |
|---|---|
| April 1, 2025 | $17.75 |
| April 1, 2024 | $17.30 |
| April 1, 2023 | $16.65 |
| April 1, 2022 | $15.55 |
| December 29, 2021 | $15.00 |
Prior to December 2021, the federal minimum wage was tied to the highest provincial rate. The government established an independent federal minimum wage of $15.00 per hour in December 2021 and indexed it to CPI going forward.
Related calculators
- Salary Calculator — Estimate your after-tax take-home pay
- Hourly to Salary Calculator — Convert your hourly wage to an annual salary
- Income Tax Calculator — Calculate your federal and provincial income tax
- Income Percentile Calculator — See how your income compares to other Canadians
- Tax Brackets — View the current federal and provincial tax brackets