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

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. 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. 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. 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