BC minimum wage for 2026
British Columbia's general minimum wage is $18.25 an hour, in force since June 1, 2026.[bc_mw] It applies to every employee covered by the B.C. Employment Standards Act whatever the pay period. The same just-over-2.1% increase was applied on June 1, 2026 to the minimum daily or hourly rates for resident caretakers, live-in home support workers, live-in camp leaders and app-based ride-hailing and delivery workers; minimum piece rates for hand-harvested crops rise by the same percentage on December 31, 2026, after the harvest season.[bc_mw]
How BC's minimum wage is set
B.C. raises its minimum wage every June 1 by the province's average inflation rate for the previous calendar year; the rule is in law, so the increase does not depend on a yearly government decision.[bc_mw][bc_mw_page] The 2026 increase used 2025 inflation, which the government described as just over 2.1%, taking the rate from $17.85 to $18.25 (40 cents). The June 1, 2027 rate will use 2026 inflation and has not been announced yet.
Minimum daily pay in BC: the 2-hour and 4-hour rules
When an employer requires you to report for work in B.C., you must be paid for at least 2 hours at your regular wage even if you do not start, and for at least 4 hours if you were scheduled to work more than 8 hours that day.[bc_esa34] If work is stopped for reasons completely beyond the employer's control, such as unsuitable weather, the minimum is 2 hours; neither minimum applies if you are unfit to work. At $18.25, one hour worked on a 6-hour shift is paid $36.50, and on a 10-hour shift $73.00 ($36.50 if the weather stopped work).
BC minimum daily pay calculator
ESA s. 34Enter your regular wage, the hours you worked and the hours you were scheduled for that day.
B.C. minimum pay for the day
- Hours worked
- 1 h
- Hours that must be paid
- 4 h
- Pay for time worked
- $18.25
- Extra owed under the rule
- $54.75
Minimum pay for the day$73.00
The 4-hour minimum (B.C. ESA s. 34) applies: 1 h worked, 4 h paid at $18.25, so $54.75 more than the time worked.
If you work longer than the minimum, you are paid for the whole time worked. Gross pay before deductions.
BC minimum wage per week, month and year
At $18.25 an hour, a full-time 40-hour week pays $730.00 and a 52-week year $37,960; a 35-hour week pays $638.75, $33,215 a year.
| Hours a week | Week | Two weeks | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 h | $730.00 | $1,460.00 | $3,163.33 | $37,960 |
| 37.5 h | $684.38 | $1,368.75 | $2,965.63 | $35,588 |
| 35 h | $638.75 | $1,277.50 | $2,767.92 | $33,215 |
| 30 h | $547.50 | $1,095.00 | $2,372.50 | $28,470 |
| 20 h | $365.00 | $730.00 | $1,581.67 | $18,980 |
| 15 h | $273.75 | $547.50 | $1,186.25 | $14,235 |
BC compared with Alberta, Ontario and the federal minimum
BC's minimum wage is $3.25 an hour higher than the minimum wage in Alberta ($15.00), $0.30 above Ontario's $17.95 and $0.10 above the federal $18.15 that applies to federally regulated jobs.[prov_mw][fed_mw] Over a full-time year that is about $6,760 more than in Alberta. Among provinces, only Nunavut ($20.17) and Yukon ($18.51) pay more; see the full table below, or the minimum wage Ontario page for Ontario's student and homeworker rates.
| Jurisdiction | Hourly | Since | Previous | Next change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nunavut | $20.17 | September 1, 2026 | $19.75 (September 1, 2025) | September 1, 2027 (formula) |
| Yukon | $18.51 | April 1, 2026 | $17.94 (April 1, 2025) | April 1, 2027 (Whitehorse CPI) |
| British Columbia | $18.25 | June 1, 2026 | $17.85 (June 1, 2025) | June 1, 2027 (BC CPI; amount not yet announced) |
| Federal (federally regulated jobs) | $18.15 | April 1, 2026 | $17.75 (April 1, 2025) | April 1, 2027 (CPI; amount not yet announced) |
| Ontario | $17.95 | October 1, 2026 | $17.60 (October 1, 2025) | October 1, 2027 (Ontario CPI; announced by April 1, 2027) |
| Prince Edward Island | $17.30 | October 1, 2026 | $17.00 (April 1, 2026) | $17.60 on April 1, 2027 |
| Northwest Territories | $17.20 | September 1, 2026 | $16.95 (September 1, 2025) | September 1, 2027 (formula) |
| Nova Scotia | $17.00 | October 1, 2026 | $16.75 (April 1, 2026) | April 1, 2027 (projected CPI + 1%) |
| Quebec | $16.60 | May 1, 2026 | $16.10 (May 1, 2025) | May 1, 2027 (usually announced in spring) |
| Manitoba | $16.40 | October 1, 2026 | $16.00 (October 1, 2025) | October 1, 2027 (indexed) |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.35 | April 1, 2026 | $16.00 (April 1, 2025) | April 1, 2027 (CPI) |
| New Brunswick | $15.90 | April 1, 2026 | $15.65 (April 1, 2025) | April 1, 2027 (CPI) |
| Saskatchewan | $15.70 | October 1, 2026 | $15.35 (October 1, 2025) | October 1, 2027 (formula) |
| Alberta | $15.00 | October 1, 2018 | $13.60 (October 1, 2017) | No increase announced |
Prices in BC: PST and GST
A higher wage meets a 12% sales tax on most purchases in BC: 5% GST plus 7% PST, both charged on the price before tax.[cra_rates] A $100 purchase costs $112. Use the GST calculator with British Columbia selected to split any receipt, or the sales tax calculator for Canada to compare provinces. Low-income households also receive the quarterly GST credit (now the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit).
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in BC in 2026?
$18.25 an hour since June 1, 2026 (it was $17.85 from June 1, 2025).
When does the BC minimum wage go up next?
June 1, 2027, by B.C.'s average 2026 inflation rate. The amount has not been announced.
How much is $18.25 an hour a year?
About $37,960 for 40 hours a week over 52 weeks, $730.00 a week, before deductions.
How many hours must I be paid if sent home in BC?
At least 2 hours at your regular wage, or 4 hours if you were scheduled for more than 8 hours that day (2 if work stopped for reasons beyond the employer's control). At $18.25 that is $36.50 or $73.00.
Is BC minimum wage higher than Alberta?
Yes, by $3.25 an hour: $18.25 in BC against $15.00 in Alberta.
Sources
- B.C.'s minimum wage increases to $18.25, June 1 (news release 2026LBR0021-000581)
- Minimum wage (B.C. Employment Standards)
- Employment Standards Act [RSBC 1996] c. 113, section 34: Minimum daily hours
- Government of Canada raises the federal minimum wage (to $18.15 on April 1, 2026)
- Provincial and territorial minimum wage orders and releases (AB, MB, SK, QC, NB, NS, PE, NL, YT, NT, NU)
- GST/HST calculator (and rates): GST/HST and PST rates by province; GST/HST rates since April 1, 2013