What is minimum wage?
Minimum wage is the lowest wage rate an employer can pay an employee. Most employees are eligible for minimum wage, whether they are full-time, part-time, casual employees, or are paid an hourly rate, commission, piece rate, flat rate or salary.
Minimum wage differs from one province or territory to the next. The following table provides the general minimum wage at the federal and provincial/territorial level as well dates these rates became effective.
For more information minimal wage compliance and rules, please refer to your provincial provincial/territorial website linked below.
Additional Resources
- See NPI’s Minimum Wage Updates for information on special minimum wage rates for certain categories of employees
- For a handy guide, download this Minimum Wage Map. Please note, some local exceptions based on profession
Minimum Wage by Province
The following table provides an overview of the minimum hourly rate for general workers by province or territory:
**The minimum wage is adjusted annually using a formula based on the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Yellowknife and the percentage change in the average hourly wage (AHW) in the NWT for the preceding calendar year.
†Special minimum wage rates for those under 18, homeworkers, and hunting/fishing/wilderness guides also increasing.
††Minimum wage increases every year on April 1. This annual increase is tied to inflation, calculated using the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Disclaimer: The information provided in this guide is for informational purposes only. It is not professional financial or legal advice nor is it intended to be a substitute therefore. Where there are discrepancies between the guide and information provided by the federal government, provincial government, or the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) or Revenu Québec, defer to the guidelines provided by the governing agencies.