Minimum wage in Canada by province (2026)
Rates checked against government announcements on .
Quick Answer
Canada has no single minimum wage — each province and territory sets its own. As of September 17, 2026, rates run from $15.00 an hour in Alberta to $20.17 in Nunavut, and federally regulated workplaces pay at least $18.15. Worked full time (2,080 hours), that's between $31,200 and $41,954 a year before tax. Five jurisdictions raise their rate on October 1, 2026.
| Province/Territory | Minimum wage | Full time, a year | After tax | Next change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nunavut ↗ | $20.17 | $41,954 | $35,265 | — |
| Yukon | $18.51 | $38,501 | $32,056 | — |
| British Columbia ↗ | $18.25 | $37,960 | $31,627 | — |
| Ontario ↗ | $17.60 | $36,608 | $30,409 | $17.95 on October 1, 2026 |
| Northwest Territories ↗ | $17.20 | $35,776 | $30,238 | — |
| Prince Edward Island ↗ | $17.00 | $35,360 | $29,053 | $17.30 on October 1, 2026 |
| Nova Scotia ↗ | $16.75 | $34,840 | $28,366 | $17.00 on October 1, 2026 |
| Quebec | $16.60 | $34,528 | $28,513 | — |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.35 | $34,008 | $28,109 | — |
| Manitoba ↗ | $16.00 | $33,280 | $27,504 | $16.40 on October 1, 2026 |
| New Brunswick | $15.90 | $33,072 | $27,370 | — |
| Saskatchewan ↗ | $15.35 | $31,928 | $27,089 | $15.70 on October 1, 2026 |
| Alberta ↗ | $15.00 | $31,200 | $26,989 | — |
| Federally regulated | $18.15 | $37,752 | varies | Indexed each April 1 |
After-tax figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year and use each jurisdiction's own 2026 tax rates, CPP (QPP in Quebec) and EI, for a single employee with no other income or credits. Where a rate changes on October 1, 2026, the table shows the rate in effect today.
What changes on October 1, 2026
- Ontario: $17.60 → $17.95 an hour, about $728 more a year at full-time hours
- Prince Edward Island: $17.00 → $17.30 an hour, about $624 more a year at full-time hours
- Nova Scotia: $16.75 → $17.00 an hour, about $520 more a year at full-time hours
- Manitoba: $16.00 → $16.40 an hour, about $832 more a year at full-time hours
- Saskatchewan: $15.35 → $15.70 an hour, about $728 more a year at full-time hours
What minimum wage actually pays in a year
The usual full-time assumption is 2,080 paid hours (40 hours a week for 52 weeks). Two things pull the real number down: minimum wage jobs are often part time, and unpaid time off reduces paid hours. At 30 hours a week, Nunavut's $20.17 works out to about $31,465 a year rather than $41,954.
The after-tax column above is what makes the comparison honest: a higher headline rate in a territory comes with different tax rates, and living costs differ far more than the wage gap. To see any wage converted in detail, including monthly and biweekly pay, use our hourly wage pages or the salary calculator.
How the rates get set
Most provinces and territories now index their minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index and adjust on a fixed date each year: April 1 in several Atlantic provinces and Yukon, June 1 in British Columbia, May 1 in Quebec, September 1 in the territories, and October 1 in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia. Alberta is the outlier: its rate has been $15.00 since October 1, 2018. Federally regulated employers must pay the higher of the federal minimum wage and the rate in the province or territory where the employee works.
Living on minimum wage
At $17.60 an hour in Ontario, full-time pay is $36,608 before tax and roughly $30,409 after, or about $2,534 a month. The common guideline of 30% of gross income for housing leaves about $915 a month for rent, which is below average asking rents in most large Canadian cities — the reason minimum wage and "living wage" estimates differ so much. Our guides on how much rent you can afford and budgeting on a tight income work through the trade-offs.
Sources and corrections
Each rate is taken from the responsible government's announcement or employment standards page; the linked jurisdictions above go straight to the official page. Rates change on fixed dates and this page is updated when they do. If you spot a rate that's out of date, email info@loanlens.ca and we'll correct it.