Minimum wage in Canada

C$18.15 per hour1

per hourGeneral rate since April 1, 2026

Applies to: federally regulated private-sector employers

Next change

No scheduled increase on record.

Since 2021Full history
Weekly, 40 hoursC$726.00
Monthly, 52 weeks รท 12C$3,146.00
Annual, 2,080 hoursC$37,752.00
Overtime, 1.5ร—C$27.22

1 rate in force

Rates by worker type, industry and employer size

The highest rate that fits the job applies.

Applies toRateEffective
Federally regulated private-sector employers
Source
Effective April 1, 2026, the federal minimum wage is set at $18.15 per hour
Source
agency page
snapshot
September 26, 2026
Notes
Canada Labour Code s. 178.1(2) April 1 CPI adjustment (CPI +2.1% in 2025, rounded up to $0.05); federally regulated private sector.

Verified September 26, 2026

C$18.15April 1, 2026April 1, 2026

2021 to 2026

History

Each step is a rate row with its own quoted source.

Show the history as a table
Applies toRateEffectiveUntil
Federally regulated private-sector employers
Source
Effective April 1, 2025, the federal minimum wage is set at $17.75 per hour
Source
agency page
snapshot
September 26, 2026
Notes
Canada Labour Code s. 178.1(2) April 1 CPI adjustment; applies to federally regulated private-sector employees (a higher provincial general rate prevails, s. 178(2)).

Verified September 26, 2026

C$17.75April 1, 2025 โ€“ April 1, 2026April 1, 2025April 1, 2026
Federally regulated private-sector employers
Source: Canada Labour Code s. 178.1(2)
To keep up with the cost of living, the federal minimum wage will increase from $16.65 to $17.30 per hour on April 1, 2024.
Source
press release
snapshot
September 26, 2026
Notes
Canada Labour Code s. 178.1(2) CPI adjustment (CPI +3.9% in 2023).

Verified September 26, 2026

C$17.30April 1, 2024 โ€“ April 1, 2025April 1, 2024April 1, 2025
Federally regulated private-sector employers
Source: Canada Labour Code s. 178.1(2)
To keep pace with inflation, the federal minimum wage will increase from $15.55 to $16.65 per hour on April 1, 2023.
Source
press release
snapshot
September 26, 2026
Notes
Canada Labour Code s. 178.1(2) CPI adjustment (CPI +6.8% in 2022).

Verified September 26, 2026

C$16.65April 1, 2023 โ€“ April 1, 2024April 1, 2023April 1, 2024
Federally regulated private-sector employers
Source: Canada Labour Code s. 178.1(2)
On April 1, 2022, the federal minimum wage will increase from $15.00 to $15.55 per hour. For those working in provinces or territories where the general minimum wage rate is higher, the higher rate will continue to apply.
Source
press release
snapshot
September 26, 2026
Notes
First April 1 CPI adjustment under Canada Labour Code s. 178.1(2).

Verified September 26, 2026

C$15.55April 1, 2022 โ€“ April 1, 2023April 1, 2022April 1, 2023
Federally regulated private-sector employers
Source: Canada Labour Code s. 178.1(1) (Budget Implementation Act, 2021, No. 1, S.C. 2021, c. 23)
News Release: Federal minimum wage of $15 per hour to come into effect on December 29, 2021
Source
press release
snapshot
September 26, 2026
Notes
Canada Labour Code s. 178.1(1) set the first standalone federal minimum wage at $15 (S.C. 2021, c. 23), in force December 29, 2021.

Verified September 26, 2026

C$15.00December 29, 2021 โ€“ April 1, 2022December 29, 2021April 1, 2022
Earlier rules by employer size, worker type and condition (5)
Applies toRateEffectiveUntil
Federally regulated private-sector employers
Source
Effective April 1, 2025, the federal minimum wage is set at $17.75 per hour
Source
agency page
snapshot
September 26, 2026
Notes
Canada Labour Code s. 178.1(2) April 1 CPI adjustment; applies to federally regulated private-sector employees (a higher provincial general rate prevails, s. 178(2)).

Verified September 26, 2026

C$17.75April 1, 2025 โ€“ April 1, 2026April 1, 2025April 1, 2026
Federally regulated private-sector employers
Source: Canada Labour Code s. 178.1(2)
To keep up with the cost of living, the federal minimum wage will increase from $16.65 to $17.30 per hour on April 1, 2024.
Source
press release
snapshot
September 26, 2026
Notes
Canada Labour Code s. 178.1(2) CPI adjustment (CPI +3.9% in 2023).

Verified September 26, 2026

C$17.30April 1, 2024 โ€“ April 1, 2025April 1, 2024April 1, 2025
Federally regulated private-sector employers
Source: Canada Labour Code s. 178.1(2)
To keep pace with inflation, the federal minimum wage will increase from $15.55 to $16.65 per hour on April 1, 2023.
Source
press release
snapshot
September 26, 2026
Notes
Canada Labour Code s. 178.1(2) CPI adjustment (CPI +6.8% in 2022).

Verified September 26, 2026

C$16.65April 1, 2023 โ€“ April 1, 2024April 1, 2023April 1, 2024
Federally regulated private-sector employers
Source: Canada Labour Code s. 178.1(2)
On April 1, 2022, the federal minimum wage will increase from $15.00 to $15.55 per hour. For those working in provinces or territories where the general minimum wage rate is higher, the higher rate will continue to apply.
Source
press release
snapshot
September 26, 2026
Notes
First April 1 CPI adjustment under Canada Labour Code s. 178.1(2).

Verified September 26, 2026

C$15.55April 1, 2022 โ€“ April 1, 2023April 1, 2022April 1, 2023
Federally regulated private-sector employers
Source: Canada Labour Code s. 178.1(1) (Budget Implementation Act, 2021, No. 1, S.C. 2021, c. 23)
News Release: Federal minimum wage of $15 per hour to come into effect on December 29, 2021
Source
press release
snapshot
September 26, 2026
Notes
Canada Labour Code s. 178.1(1) set the first standalone federal minimum wage at $15 (S.C. 2021, c. 23), in force December 29, 2021.

Verified September 26, 2026

C$15.00December 29, 2021 โ€“ April 1, 2022December 29, 2021April 1, 2022

C$18.15 / hour

Calculators

Estimates before tax at this rate. Nothing you type leaves this page.

What this wage pays

Gross pay before tax ยท C$18.15
WeeklyC$726.00
Monthly52 weeks รท 12C$3,146.00
Annual52 weeksC$37,752.00
Overtime rate1.5ร— where overtime appliesC$27.22

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Postal code lookup

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The minimum wage in Canada is not the same everywhere. Enter a postal code to see the rate that applies there.

13 jurisdictions

Jurisdictions within Canada

Open one for its own rates, rules and sources.

JurisdictionGeneral rateScale C$0โ€“C$20SinceNext changeSpecial rules
AlbertaC$18.15Canada3
British ColumbiaC$18.25June 1, 20264
ManitobaC$18.15Canada
New BrunswickC$18.15Canada
Newfoundland and LabradorC$18.15Canada
Northwest TerritoriesC$18.15Canada
Nova ScotiaC$18.15Canada
NunavutC$19.75September 1, 2025
OntarioC$18.15Canada4
Prince Edward IslandC$18.15Canada
QuebecC$18.15Canada1
SaskatchewanC$18.15Canada
YukonC$18.15Canada

2 questions

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum wage in Canada?

C$18.15 per hour since April 1, 2026. For a 40-hour week that is about C$726.00 a week or C$37,752.00 a year before tax.

Is the minimum wage in Canada increasing?

No increase is scheduled on record as of October 1, 2026. Inflation-indexed jurisdictions announce the next figure a few months before it takes effect.

1 level of law

How this rate is resolved

The highest minimum that covers the work location applies.

Employers must pay the highest minimum that covers the work location. WageTable checks each level in turn:

  1. Canada

Canada sets 1 rule of its own. Year pages: 2026, 2027.

Notes on this jurisdiction's rules and sources

Canada has no single national minimum wage. The federal minimum wage (Canada Labour Code s. 178-178.1) applies only to employees of federally regulated private-sector employers (banks, interprovincial transport, telecommunications, etc.); every other employee is covered by the minimum wage of their province or territory (ca-{code} children). Federal rates therefore apply to "federally regulated private-sector employers", and under s. 178(2) a higher provincial/territorial general rate applies to federal employees in that province.

Canada

Enforcement