Student Minimum Wage in Canada: The Plain-English Guide for Employers and Students (2026)

Only two provinces — Alberta and Ontario — have a separate, lower student minimum wage. Everywhere else in Canada, students earn the same general minimum wage as everyone else. Here is the complete 2026 breakdown for employers and students.

Educational note

Last updated: April 21, 2026

Applies to: Canadian employers who hire students, and students working in Canada.

Educational note: This article is informational only. It is not legal advice. Minimum wage rules change often and vary by province, territory, industry, and whether the employer is federally regulated. Always verify the current rate with your provincial or territorial labour ministry before running payroll.

Sources

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/jobs/workplace/federal-labour-standards/pay-deductions.html

Quick answer in 30 seconds

If you are busy, here is everything in one breath:

In most of Canada, students earn the same general minimum wage as everyone else.
Only two provinces — Alberta and Ontario — have a separate, lower student minimum wage.
Alberta students under 18: $13.00/hour for the first 28 hours in a week when school is in session. Hours beyond 28 must be paid at the general minimum of $15.00/hour.
Ontario students under 18: $16.60/hour (rising to $16.90/hour on October 1, 2026) when working 28 hours a week or less during the school year, or during school breaks. Work more than 28 hours in a week during school and the general rate of $17.60/hour (rising to $17.95/hour on October 1, 2026) applies.
Federally regulated workers (banks, airlines, telecom, interprovincial trucking, postal services) must be paid the higher of the federal minimum wage ($18.15/hour, effective April 1, 2026) or the applicable provincial/territorial rate — with no student exception.
Overtime entitlements still apply to students where the jurisdiction's overtime rules apply — subject to any industry- or occupation-specific exemptions. The student rate affects only the base hourly rate, not whether overtime is owed.

If you are an employer, this one sentence matters most: unless you are in Alberta or Ontario, you pay students the regular adult minimum wage.

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Why this topic causes so much confusion

Every week, Canadian employers ask some version of the same question:

"Can I pay a student less than the regular minimum wage?"

The honest answer is: it depends almost entirely on the province. Canada does not have one national student wage. Each province and territory sets its own rules, and only two of them allow a lower rate specifically for students. Everywhere else, a 16-year-old cashier and a 40-year-old cashier must be paid the same minimum hourly rate.

The confusion usually comes from three places:

U.S. templates. Many American states have "youth" or "training" wages. Canadian rules are different — do not copy U.S. policies.
Old information. Rates change at least once a year, sometimes twice. A blog from two years ago is almost always out of date.
Mixing up federal and provincial rules. A bank teller in Toronto is not covered by Ontario's minimum wage — they are covered by the federal minimum wage. Same city, different rulebook.

This guide clears all of that up, province by province, in plain English.

Sources

https://www.ontario.ca/document/your-guide-employment-standards-act-0/minimum-wage

The two provinces with a separate student minimum wage

Alberta — the "job creation student wage"

Alberta is the only province with a student rate that is significantly lower than the general minimum wage.

The numbers

General minimum wage: $15.00/hour
Student minimum wage: $13.00/hour

Who qualifies

Students under 18
Must be enrolled in school (up to grade 12, post-secondary, or vocational)

When the $13.00 student rate applies

When school is in session: the first 28 hours worked in a week can be paid at $13.00/hour. Any hours beyond 28 in that same week must be paid at the general minimum of $15.00/hour.
When school is not in session (summer holidays, winter break, spring break, etc.): the $13.00 rate applies to all regular hours worked.

Important things employers often miss

Overtime entitlements still apply under Alberta law. Alberta's Employment Standards confirm overtime rules apply to students paid the job creation student wage. The specific overtime threshold and calculation depend on the employee's occupation and any applicable exemptions — always check Alberta Employment Standards for the rules that apply to the role.
Youth under 18 who are not enrolled in school are not eligible for this rate. They must be paid the general minimum wage of $15.00/hour.
Employers can choose to pay students more than $13.00/hour. The law sets a floor, not a ceiling.

Example, plain and simple
A 17-year-old student works 30 hours in a school week in Alberta. The employer can legally pay $13.00/hour for the first 28 hours, but the remaining 2 hours must be paid at $15.00/hour.

Source: Alberta.ca — Minimum wage

Ontario — a smaller gap, with an October 2026 increase

Ontario also has a separate student rate, but the difference between the student rate and the general rate is much smaller than in Alberta — and both rates will go up on October 1, 2026.

The numbers (as of April 21, 2026)

Student minimum wage: $16.60/hour → rising to $16.90/hour on October 1, 2026
General minimum wage: $17.60/hour → rising to $17.95/hour on October 1, 2026

Who qualifies

Students under 18

When the student rate applies

Working 28 hours a week or less while school is in session, or
Working during a school break or summer holidays (no hour cap during breaks)

When the general rate applies

The student works more than 28 hours in a week while school is in session. In that case, the general minimum wage applies to all hours worked in that week — not just the hours above 28. (This is a key difference from Alberta.)

Example, plain and simple
A 17-year-old student in Ontario works 25 hours during a school week. They are paid $16.60/hour for all 25 hours. The following week, they pick up extra shifts and work 32 hours during school. Because they crossed the 28-hour threshold, they must be paid the general rate of $17.60/hour for the entire week.

Sources: Ontario.ca — Minimum wage (Your Guide to the Employment Standards Act), Government of Canada — Minimum Wage Database

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Every other province and territory: one rate for everyone

In the rest of Canada, there is no separate student minimum wage. Students — whether 15, 17, or in graduate school — are paid the same general minimum wage as every other worker.

Here are the current rates and any upcoming increases already on the books:

Jurisdiction	Minimum wage as of August 28, 2026	Effective-date note
British Columbia	$18.25/hour	Effective June 1, 2026
Saskatchewan	$15.35/hour	—
Manitoba	$16.00/hour	→ $16.40/hour on October 1, 2026
Quebec	$16.10/hour	→ $16.60/hour on May 1, 2026
New Brunswick	$15.90/hour	—
Nova Scotia	$16.75/hour	→ $17.00/hour on October 1, 2026
Prince Edward Island	$17.00/hour	→ $17.30/hour on October 1, 2026
Newfoundland and Labrador	$16.35/hour	—
Yukon	$18.51/hour	—
Northwest Territories	$16.95/hour	—
Nunavut	$19.75/hour	—

Effective-date notes to put on your payroll calendar:

Quebec — May 1, 2026
British Columbia — June 1, 2026
Manitoba — October 1, 2026
Nova Scotia — October 1, 2026
Ontario — October 1, 2026
Prince Edward Island — October 1, 2026

Official government sources:

Province of British Columbia — Minimum wage
Government of Saskatchewan — Minimum Wage and Reporting for Duty Pay
Province of Manitoba — Minimum wage increase announcement
Government of New Brunswick — Minimum wage, overtime and minimum pay for reporting for work
Government of Nova Scotia — Minimum wage
Government of Prince Edward Island — Minimum wage set to increase
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador — Minimum wage increase (April 1, 2026)
Government of the Northwest Territories — Minimum Wage
Government of Canada — Minimum Wage Database

Sources

Federally regulated sectors: a different rulebook

Some Canadian workplaces do not follow provincial minimum wage rules at all. They follow federal rules, set by the Canada Labour Code.

Sectors that are federally regulated include:

Banking
Airlines and air transportation
Telecommunications (phone, internet, broadcasting)
Interprovincial transportation (trucking, rail, bus services that cross provincial borders)
Postal services

The federal minimum wage

$18.15/hour, effective April 1, 2026.
Adjusted every April 1 based on Canada's Consumer Price Index.

The rule that trips employers up
Federally regulated employers must pay their employees the higher of:

The federal minimum wage, OR
The applicable provincial or territorial minimum wage where the employee works.

Examples

A federally regulated employee in Nunavut is paid at least $19.75/hour — the Nunavut rate is higher than the federal $18.15.
A federally regulated employee in Yukon is paid at least $18.51/hour — Yukon's rate is higher.
A federally regulated employee in British Columbia (after June 1, 2026) is paid at least $18.25/hour — BC's rate will be higher.
A federally regulated employee in Ontario is paid at least $18.15/hour — the federal rate is higher than Ontario's general rate.

And importantly: there is no federal student minimum wage. A 17-year-old student working at a bank in Toronto is paid the full federal rate of $18.15/hour, not the Ontario student rate.

Sources: Government of Canada — Federal minimum wage announcement (March 24, 2026), Government of Canada — Minimum Wage Database

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Side-by-side comparison: Alberta vs. Ontario student rules

Because these are the only two provinces with a separate student wage, it helps to see them next to each other.

Rule	Alberta	Ontario
Student rate	$13.00/hour	$16.60/hour (→ $16.90 on Oct 1, 2026)
General rate	$15.00/hour	$17.60/hour (→ $17.95 on Oct 1, 2026)
Age requirement	Under 18	Under 18
Official eligibility wording	Student under 18 enrolled in school (up to grade 12, post-secondary, or vocational). The job creation student wage does not apply to youth who are out of school.	Student under 18 who works 28 hours a week or less while school is in session, or who works during a school break or summer holidays.
28-hour weekly threshold during school	Student rate on first 28 hrs; general rate on hours above 28 (in the same week)	If student works more than 28 hrs in a school week, general rate applies to all hours that week
During school breaks	Student rate applies to all hours	Student rate applies to all hours
If youth under 18 is not in school	Must be paid general minimum ($15.00)	See Ontario eligibility wording above — consult Ontario Employment Standards for specific situations
Overtime entitlements	Apply, subject to Alberta's overtime rules and any occupation-specific exemptions	Apply, subject to Ontario's overtime rules and any occupation-specific exemptions

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Common mistakes employers make

These are the patterns we see again and again. Avoid them and you will sidestep most wage complaints.

Paying a student rate outside Alberta and Ontario. If your business is in BC, Quebec, Nova Scotia, or anywhere else, there is no student rate — pay the general minimum.
Using the Alberta rate for out-of-school youth. The $13.00 rate applies only to students currently enrolled in school. A 17-year-old dropout working the same job is owed $15.00/hour.
Forgetting the 28-hour rule in Ontario. One extra shift that pushes a student past 28 hours in a school week changes the rate for every hour worked that week.
Assuming the student rate cancels overtime. It does not. Where a jurisdiction's overtime rules apply, they apply to students too — subject to any industry or occupation exemptions. Always check the overtime rules for the specific role.
Applying provincial rules to federally regulated staff. A bank, airline, telecom, or interprovincial trucking employee follows the federal floor — and there is no student discount.
Forgetting to update payroll on the increase date. Six provinces have rate changes scheduled in 2026. Put them on the calendar now.
Copying a U.S. youth wage policy. Canadian law is different. Do not use American templates.
Not putting the rules in writing. If a shift lead or manager guesses wrong, the employer is liable. A short, written policy prevents most errors.

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What this means for students

If you are a student trying to figure out what you should be paid:

Find out which province or territory you work in. That is rule number one.
Check if your employer is federally regulated (bank, airline, telecom, interprovincial trucking, postal). If yes, the federal rate applies, with no student discount.
If you work in Alberta or Ontario and you are under 18 and in school, the student rate may apply — but only under the specific conditions above.
Everywhere else, you are entitled to the full general minimum wage.
Always keep your own record of hours worked. Your pay stub should show hours, rate, and deductions. If something looks off, ask HR, then check with your provincial labour standards office.
Overtime still belongs to you. The student rate does not erase overtime rights.

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What this means for employers (especially multi-province businesses)

If you operate in more than one province, or if you run a federally regulated business, your policy should include:

A clear statement of which minimum wage applies in each location (updated every time a province announces a change).
A note on whether you operate under provincial or federal jurisdiction. This single fact decides the entire rulebook for your payroll.
A calendar of scheduled increases with the exact date and new rate.
An internal rule on the 28-hour threshold if you have operations in Alberta or Ontario and hire students under 18.
A reminder that overtime, vacation pay, and statutory holiday pay are governed by the statutory rules of each jurisdiction — which generally tie entitlements to earnings, hours, or length of service rather than simply to the student rate. Always calculate these entitlements using the formulas set out in the applicable employment standards legislation.
A written policy acknowledgement signed by managers responsible for scheduling and payroll.

A short, province-aware written policy avoids almost every wage complaint we see. If you want a template that already handles all of this, our platform generates one automatically based on your jurisdiction — see the end of this article.

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Frequently asked questions

Is there a national student minimum wage in Canada? No. Each province and territory sets its own rules. Only Alberta and Ontario have a separate lower rate for students.

Can an employer in BC or Quebec pay a student less than the general minimum wage? No. In every province and territory except Alberta and Ontario, students are paid the general minimum wage.

Does the student rate apply to university and college students? Both the Alberta and Ontario student rates are tied to being under 18. Most university and college students are 18 or older, so they are paid the general minimum wage. In Alberta, the job creation student wage additionally requires the student to be enrolled in school (grade 12, post-secondary, or vocational).

Does the student rate apply during summer jobs? In Alberta, yes — the $13.00 rate applies to all regular hours worked during summer or school breaks for students under 18 who are enrolled in school. In Ontario, the student rate applies during a school break or summer holidays for workers under 18 (the 28-hour cap does not apply during breaks).

What if a student works at a bank or airline? Banks, airlines, telecoms, interprovincial transport, and postal services are federally regulated. The federal minimum wage of $18.15/hour (April 1, 2026) applies — or the provincial rate if it is higher. There is no student exception under federal rules.

Do overtime rules apply to student workers? In general, yes — where a jurisdiction's overtime rules apply to an employee, they apply regardless of whether the employee is paid the student rate. However, overtime thresholds, calculations, and exemptions vary by province and by occupation (for example, certain managerial, agricultural, or specified occupations may be exempt). Always check the rules for the specific role.

What happens in Ontario if a student works 29 hours in a school week? Because the student crossed the 28-hour threshold, the general minimum wage applies to every hour worked that week, not just the 29th hour. This is a common and costly mistake.

What happens in Alberta if a student works 30 hours in a school week? The first 28 hours can be paid at $13.00/hour, and the remaining 2 hours must be paid at the general rate of $15.00/hour. Alberta's rule is hour-by-hour within the week — different from Ontario.

Can Quebec employers pay students less? No. Quebec has no separate student minimum wage. From May 1, 2026, all workers in Quebec — students or not — must be paid at least $16.60/hour (the tipped-employee rate is different and does not relate to student status).

How often do minimum wages change? Most provinces adjust their rates once a year, usually tied to the Consumer Price Index. The federal rate changes every April 1. Some provinces have two changes in a year. Always verify the current rate before processing payroll.

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A quick note before you act on this

This article is informational and operational. It is not legal advice. Minimum wage rules change often and differ by industry, jurisdiction, and whether your workplace is federally regulated. Always verify the current rate with your provincial or territorial labour ministry, or consult a qualified employment-law professional in your jurisdiction, before acting on the information above.

Sources

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/jobs/workplace/federal-labour-standards/pay-deductions.html

Build a compliant, province-aware policy in minutes

Keeping track of 13 provinces and territories, a federal floor, two student wage rules, and six scheduled increases in a single year is exactly the kind of work that causes payroll mistakes and wage complaints.

Canada Policy Manual generates written, province-aware workplace policies — including student wage, overtime, and minimum wage policies — that update as rules change. Build your manual once, stay compliant every year.

Generate your policy manual at canadapolicymanual.com →

Sources

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/jobs/workplace.html?lang=en

Official sources used in this article

Alberta.ca — Employment standards rules: Minimum wage
Ontario.ca — Minimum wage (Your Guide to the Employment Standards Act)
Province of British Columbia — Minimum wage
BC Gov News — Minimum wage increasing to $18.25 in 2026
Government of Saskatchewan — Minimum Wage and Reporting for Duty Pay
Province of Manitoba — Minimum wage increase announcement (Oct 1, 2026)
Government of New Brunswick — Minimum wage, overtime and minimum pay for reporting for work
Government of Nova Scotia — Minimum wage
Government of Prince Edward Island — Minimum wage set to increase
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador — Minimum wage increase (April 1, 2026)
Government of the Northwest Territories — Minimum Wage
Government of Canada — Federal minimum wage announcement (March 24, 2026)
Government of Canada — Minimum Wage Database

Sources

Key Takeaways

Canada does not have a national student minimum wage.
Only Alberta and Ontario have a separate student minimum wage, and both apply only to workers under 18.
Alberta: $13.00/hour (student) vs. $15.00/hour (general). The 28-hour-per-week rule applies hour-by-hour during school weeks.
Ontario: $16.60/hour (student) vs. $17.60/hour (general), both rising on October 1, 2026. Crossing 28 hours in a school week bumps the whole week to the general rate.
Every other province and territory pays students the same general minimum wage as other workers.
Federally regulated workers (banking, airlines, telecom, interprovincial transport, postal) earn the higher of $18.15/hour or the provincial rate — no student rate.
Overtime entitlements are not cancelled by the student rate — where overtime rules apply, they apply to students too, subject to industry- and occupation-specific exemptions.
Six provinces have minimum wage increases already scheduled for 2026. Mark your payroll calendar now.

Disclaimer: This article is informational and operational. It is not legal advice. Minimum wage rules change often and differ by industry, jurisdiction, and whether your workplace is federally regulated. Always verify the current rate with your provincial or territorial labour ministry, or consult a qualified employment-law professional in your jurisdiction, before acting on the information above.

Related employer resources

Overtime calculator — Calculate ordinary daily and weekly overtime using the selected jurisdiction's rules.
Canadian payroll compliance guide — Connect pay practices with the records and policies that support them.
HR compliance checklist — Review the core policy and documentation areas for your jurisdiction.
Canadian employment law glossary — Check a plain-language explanation of common workplace-law terms.
Payroll, overtime and holiday pay: employer resource hub — Find the right pay calculator, understand its assumptions and follow the relevant employment-standards guidance.