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British Columbia (BC) Minimum Wage In 2026

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Updated On: June 16, 2026

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A minimum wage is the lowest hourly pay employers can legally pay their employees. In Canada, the minimum wage varies by province and territory, with each jurisdiction setting its own rules and regulations. As of June 1, 2026, the BC minimum wage is $18.25 per hour — now the highest of any province in the country. Continue reading to learn about British Columbia’s minimum wage laws and how they’ve changed over the years.

Key Points

1. British Columbia’s general minimum wage is $18.25 per hour as of June 1, 2026 — the highest of any Canadian province.

2. BC indexes its minimum wage to inflation, so it rises automatically every June 1.

3. App-based ride-hailing and delivery (gig) workers have a separate rate of $21.89 per engaged hour.

4. Liquor servers, federally regulated workers, and live-in workers have their own rules — but tips always belong to you.

5. Even at $18.25, BC’s minimum wage trails Metro Vancouver’s living wage of $27.85/hour by nearly $10.

What Is The British Columbia (BC) Minimum Wage In 2026?

The current minimum wage rate in BC is $18.25 per hour, effective June 1, 2026¹. Because British Columbia ties its minimum wage to inflation, the rate increases automatically each year on June 1 based on the previous year’s average inflation rate. That makes BC the highest-paying province for minimum wage workers, trailing only the territories of Yukon and Nunavut.

BC Minimum Wage History By Year

British Columbia’s minimum wage has more than doubled in less than a decade. The table below shows how it has changed year over year, so you can see how today’s rate compares to previous years:

Effective Date	General Minimum Wage
September 15, 2017	$11.35
June 1, 2018	$12.65
June 1, 2019	$13.85
June 1, 2020	$14.60
June 1, 2021	$15.20
June 1, 2022	$15.65
June 1, 2023	$16.75
June 1, 2024	$17.40
June 1, 2025	$17.85
June 1, 2026	$18.25

BC Minimum Wage: Nominal Gains Vs. Real Purchasing Power

That history looks like a big raise — and in nominal terms (the dollar figure on your cheque), it is. But your real wage is what that money can actually buy after inflation, and there the picture is more modest.

BC’s minimum wage rose from $15.20 in 2021 to $18.25 in 2026, an increase of about 20%. Over the same period, consumer prices rose by roughly the same amount², so most of the gain on paper was offset by higher rents, groceries, and gas. The upside is that, unlike provinces that freeze their rate, BC’s automatic indexing at least keeps minimum wage from falling behind inflation each year.

BC minimum wage: nominal vs. real (2016–2026)

Real wage shows actual buying power, adjusted for inflation

Sources: Government of British Columbia minimum wage rates; real wage deflated using Statistics Canada CPI (constant 2016 dollars). 2025–2026 CPI estimated.

Exceptions To The BC Minimum Wage Rate

Minimum wage legislation in British Columbia has provisions for workers who earn alternate wages. These workers aren’t subject to the same general minimum wage rules as most others — they have special rates due to the nature of their occupations.

Category	Minimum Wage Rate
Employees of federally regulated companies	$18.15 per hour, or the provincial minimum wage, whichever is higher
App-based ride-hailing & delivery (gig) workers	$21.89 per engaged hour
Liquor servers	General minimum wage ($18.25 per hour)
Live-in camp leaders	$145.64 per day
Live-in home support workers	$135.88 per day
Resident caretakers	$1,092.10/month + $43.75 per suite (9–60 units); $3,719.96/month (61+ units)

What Is The BC Minimum Wage For Federally Regulated Companies?

If you’re a federal worker in BC, you’re entitled to $18.15 per hour as of April 1, 2026³. However, if the provincial minimum wage is higher than the federal rate — as it now is, at $18.25 — the higher provincial rate applies. The federal minimum wage covers workers who are federally regulated by the government, including:

Banks
Postal workers
Federal Crown corporations

What Is The BC Minimum Wage For App-Based Gig Workers?

British Columbia is one of the first provinces to set a dedicated minimum wage for app-based ride-hailing and delivery workers. As of June 1, 2026, these workers must earn at least $21.89 per engaged hour — the time from accepting a request to completing it¹. The higher rate is designed to account for the fact that gig workers cover their own vehicle and equipment costs and aren’t paid for the time spent waiting between jobs.

What Is The BC Minimum Wage For Liquor Servers?

Before June 1, 2021, liquor servers were not paid the same as general minimum wage workers. Now, workers in this category must be paid at least the general minimum wage of $18.25 per hour. This category includes those who primarily serve food and/or liquor to customers at a premises that holds a liquor licence. It doesn’t pertain to hosts, bussers, kitchen staff, or staff who only mix or pour liquor — they’re paid the general minimum wage too. Whatever your role, your tips legally belong to you and your employer can’t keep them.

What Is The BC Minimum Wage For Live-In Camp Leaders?

Live-in camp leaders perform tasks related to camping, including facilitating group activities and supervising campers. They’re paid a minimum daily rate, which rises each year at the same rate as the general minimum wage. To be eligible, camp leaders must be employed by a charity or non-profit that runs camping programs for those under 19 years of age. Here’s how the daily rate has changed in recent years:

June 1, 2026 – $145.64 per day
June 1, 2024 – $138.93 per day
June 1, 2023 – $133.69 per day
June 1, 2022 – $125.06 per day
June 1, 2021 – $121.65 per day

Wondering whether it’s better to be a contract or payroll employee?

What Is The BC Minimum Wage For Live-In Home Support Workers?

Live-in home support workers provide personal care for seniors and people with disabilities. Although these workers can be self-employed, the alternate minimum wage requirements apply only to those who work for a government-funded organization. By law, live-in support workers must be paid a prescribed minimum daily rate, currently $135.88 per day. Due to the strict criteria, few workers are eligible for this rate; most are instead governed by general minimum wage rules.

Are you a foreign worker? Learn about your rights and responsibilities as an employee.

What Is The BC Minimum Wage For Resident Caretakers?

This category refers to individuals who live in an apartment building with eight or more suites and perform janitorial, caretaking, or management duties on the premises. Resident caretakers have a unique minimum wage that’s calculated monthly, based on the number of suites in the building:

For buildings with 9 to 60 suites: $1,092.10/month + $43.75 for each suite
For buildings with 61+ suites: $3,719.96/month

For further information about alternate minimum wage rules, visit the Government of British Columbia website.

Curious About The Minimum Wage Across Canada?

Statutory Holiday Pay

If you work on a statutory holiday, you’re entitled to statutory holiday pay (provided you qualify). Here’s the formula for calculating it:

Total wages ÷ number of days worked (using only the last 30 calendar days before the statutory holiday) = statutory holiday pay

When calculating your statutory holiday pay, include your total compensation — wages, salary, commission, holiday pay, and vacation pay — but exclude overtime. Here are the rules for work done on statutory holidays:

Your employer must pay you time-and-a-half for all hours you work on a statutory holiday, and double-time for every hour worked over 12 hours.
If you don’t qualify for statutory holiday pay, your employer must pay you your regular hourly rate.
Your employer must pay you statutory holiday pay for a day off that coincides with a statutory holiday.

BC Minimum Wage And Hours Worked

Your employer must schedule you to work a minimum of two hours each workday. They’re required to compensate you for at least two hours’ worth of work when you show up for your regular shift, even when there’s no work to be done.

Your employer can request that you work overtime. The standard work hours in British Columbia are eight hours per day and 40 hours per week. If you work more than eight hours in a day or more than 40 hours in a week, your employer must pay you time-and-a-half for the extra hours. If you work more than 12 hours in a single day, you’re entitled to double-time pay.

Worker Rights And Temporary Foreign Workers In BC

Minimum wage is just one of the protections you have under BC’s Employment Standards Act. You’re also entitled to overtime, statutory holiday pay, vacation pay, job-protected breaks, the right to keep your tips, and a safe, harassment-free workplace.

These protections apply regardless of your immigration status. Temporary foreign workers in BC are entitled to the same minimum wage and employment standards as Canadian workers doing the same job. If you’re working in Canada on a permit, knowing your rights and responsibilities as an employee is your best protection against exploitation.

Note: What To Do If You’re Underpaid

If you’re paid less than the legal minimum, raise it with your employer in writing first — it may be a payroll error. If it isn’t resolved, you can file a confidential complaint with the BC Employment Standards Branch, and you may be entitled to back pay for the difference.

Minimum Wage Deductions In British Columbia

Your employer can deduct money from your wages only if they’re legally obligated to, or if you’ve agreed in writing to the deduction. Mandatory deductions include:

Federal income tax
Employment Insurance (EI)
Canada Pension Plan contributions (CPP)
Court-ordered wage garnishments

If you agree in writing, your employer can also deduct:

Medical premiums
Repayment of advances
Purchases you made from your employer
Overpayments

Annual Earnings And Take-Home Pay In BC

At $18.25 an hour, a full-time worker (40 hours a week, 52 weeks including paid vacation) earns a gross income of about $37,960 a year — the highest full-time minimum wage income among the provinces. But your take-home pay is lower, since federal income tax, CPP, and EI are deducted before the money reaches your account.

Knowing the difference between your gross and net pay helps you budget realistically, especially in a high-cost province like BC.

Learn more: How To Calculate Your Take-Home Pay In Canada

Can You Afford To Live In BC On Minimum Wage?

A living wage is the hourly amount you’d need to cover basic expenses — housing, food, transportation, and childcare — in your community. In BC, the gap between that and the minimum wage remains wide, driven largely by housing costs.

In 2025, Living Wage for Families BC calculated the Metro Vancouver living wage at $27.85 per hour, with rates across the province ranging from about $21.55 to $29.60⁴. Even at the new $18.25 minimum, a full-time worker in Metro Vancouver falls short by nearly $10 an hour. Compared to average pay, British Columbians earn average weekly earnings equivalent to roughly $70,000 a year⁵ — far above what a full-time minimum wage job pays. If you’re earning minimum wage in BC, careful budgeting and managing debt are essential to making ends meet.

BC Minimum Wage vs. BC Average Income

Annual total income, age 15+

Source: Statistics Canada, income of individuals by sex. BC full-time minimum wage = $18.25/hr × 2,080 hrs ($37,960).

Additional Reading

Can You Get Jobs That Pay Cash In Canada?

Highest Paying Jobs In Canada Without A Degree

Does Canada Have Universal Basic Income?

Bottom Line

Minimum wage rates in British Columbia have increased dramatically over the last several years, as fair wages and rising living costs remain top concerns for voters. With automatic annual indexing now in place, BC’s minimum wage will continue to keep pace with inflation, and the province has gone further than most by setting a dedicated rate for app-based gig workers. Although some argue the minimum wage hurts business, most workers’ living standards have improved because of this critical piece of legislation. Minimum wage laws are here to stay.

British Columbia Minimum Wage FAQs

Can my employer deduct my wages for missing cash from the register or when a customer doesn’t pay?

No. Missing cash or lost income due to a customer not paying are considered business expenses, and these cannot be deducted from your wages. It’s illegal for an employer to make you pay for business expenses.

Can my employer keep part of my tips?

No. Your employer doesn’t have the right to keep any portion of your tips or withhold them from you. However, they may have a policy that redistributes tips among employees who are part of a tip pool.

How has British Columbia’s minimum wage changed over the years?

BC’s minimum wage has more than doubled in less than a decade, from $11.35 in 2017 to $18.25 in 2026, with an increase almost every year. Since 2024, it has been indexed to inflation and rises automatically each June 1.

What is the point of a minimum wage?

The intention behind a minimum wage is to ensure workers are paid fairly. Minimum wage laws protect workers from unfair pay and, in doing so, help combat poverty and improve living standards.

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