Quebec Minimum Wage 2024

Whether you’re a Canadian citizen, a newcomer or a student in Quebec, you must be paid at least the minimum wage set by the Quebec government. Currently, the minimum wage in Quebec stands at $15.25. 

However, there are exceptions to this rule. Let’s dive into the different minimum wage rates set in Quebec.  

Quebec Minimum Wage 2024

As of May 1st, 2023, Quebec’s minimum wage rate is $15.25 per hour. 

According to the provincial government, an employer cannot legally pay any part-time, full-time, piecework, or commission-based employee less than the current rate. This rule applies even if the employee has access to benefits, such as room and board or a company car. 

However, if an employee is already making over minimum wage when the provincial rate increases, their employer is not obligated to adjust their pay.

How Has Quebec’s Minimum Wage Changed Over The Years?

Since 1920, Quebec’s minimum wage rate has been steadily climbing. Since 2019, the minimum wage has increased by $2.75. 

How Much Can You Make A Year On Minimum Wage In Quebec? 

As of May 1, 2023, the minimum wage in Quebec is $15.25 per hour. Given this rate, this would work out to the following (based on a full-time, 40-hour work week and 2 weeks paid holidays):

• Gross annual pay: $31,720 per year
• Gross monthly pay: $2,541 per month 

Keep in mind that these are gross earnings, which means income taxes and other deductions have not yet been made. In Quebec, the income tax and QPP/EI deductions based on a $31,720 annual income are as follows: 

• Federal taxes: $$1,743
• Provincial taxes: $2,120
• QPP/EI Premiums: $2,116
• Total taxes deducted: $5,979

Once these deductions have been made, your annual after-tax income based on an hourly wage is as follows:

• After-tax annual pay: $25,741 per year 
• After-tax monthly pay: $2,145 per month

Can You Survive On Minimum Wage In Quebec? 

The minimum wage in Quebec may not allow residents to earn enough to cover the cost of living. Depending on the city and the number of people in a household, the cost of living in Quebec can be much higher than what residents earning a minimum wage can cover. This is despite Quebec being one of the more affordable provinces to live in.

Using numbers from Numbeo and Zumper, we’ve calculated the cost of living with rent:

Cost of living in Quebec City: 

• Family of 4: $7,546 including rent for a 3-bedroom unit
• Single person: $2,820 including rent for a 1-bedroom unit

Cost of living in Montreal:

• Family of 4: $7,454 including rent for a 3-bedroom unit
• Single person: $3,022 including rent for a 1-bedroom unit

In all two examples, it would be very difficult to cover the average cost of living based on a minimum wage salary.

What is the average cost of a house in Quebec?

What Is The Minimum Wage Rate Of Federal Workers In Quebec? 

If you’re a federal worker in Canada living in Quebec, you’re entitled to $17.30 per hour starting April 1, 2024. This is the minimum wage for workers who are federally regulated by the government. This includes postal workers, banks, federal Crown corporations, and interprovincial transportation. For those who work for non-federally regulated companies, the provincial minimum wage will apply.

Unfortunately, nurses don’t qualify as federal workers, but they generally have an average wage when they start in Canada. 

Quebec Minimum Wage For Tip Employees

As of May 1, 2023, the Quebec minimum wage rate for workers who regularly earn tips is $12.20 per hour.

Tips may be given in cash or added to the customer’s bill in the form of service charges. The employee who provided the service is then required to hand their tips over to their employer, who is legally obligated to add them (in full) to the worker’s regular wage. 

Who Are Considered Tip Employees? 

As their title suggests, tip employees are workers who normally receive extra money or other gratuities from customers in exchange for their work. Common examples include servers, certain types of hotel workers, valets, and hair, nail, or beauty stylists. 

How Much Can You Get In Tips?

A minimum tip of 15% is the going rate for most food and beverage servers.

However, unfortunately, tipping is usually not obligatory and these kinds of employees aren’t always entitled to earn minimum wage or above, which is why tips are appreciated. 

Exemptions To The Minimum Wage Rate in Quebec

While the minimum wage rate is an important part of Quebec’s labour laws, there are a few exceptions when it comes to various types of workers and wages, such as:

• Commission-Based Wages. These workers receive extra pay based on a portion of their sales but are entitled to make minimum wage at the same time.  
• Piecework Wage. Workers who get paid by the piece (artists, etc.) are also entitled to receive at least Quebec’s minimum wage, on top of their extra pay.
• Strawberry & Raspberry Pickers. Starting May 1, 2023, Quebec’s minimum wage rate is $1.21 per kilogram for strawberry pickers and $4.53 per kilogram for raspberry pickers.

Find out how much taxes you need to pay if you make minimum wage.

When Must An Employer Pay A Minimum Wage Employee In Quebec?

In Quebec, employers are obligated to pay their workers’ wages in maximum intervals of 16 days. For managers and contract workers, the maximum interval is one month. If the worker is a new hire, their employer has up to one month to pay their first wages. 

Any overtime hours or bonuses that an employee makes during a standard workweek may be added to their normal wages during their regular payment. However, if the employee’s payment takes place on a statutory holiday, the employer must pay their wages by the day before said holiday, unless the payment is made by bank transfer.  

Otherwise, employers can pay their workers’ wages:

• In cash (inside of a sealed envelope)
• By cheque (cashable within 2 business days) 
• By direct transfer (through a bank or credit union)

What Can Be Deducted From The Quebec Minimum Wage? 

Here are the current wage deduction rules in Quebec: 

Regular Paycheque Deductions

Employers must have written consent from a worker before they can deduct any of their wages, which they can only do under specific circumstances. For instance, the employer is required to make deductions for: 

• Government Acts (taxes, Employment Insurance, etc.) 
• Regulations
• Collective Agreements or Decrees
• Court Orders (child support, etc.) 
• Mandatory Supplemental Pension Plans (Canada Pension Plan, etc.) 

Meals & Accommodations Deductions

Employers can deduct a portion of an employee’s wages if meals or accommodations are required or ensured due to working conditions. The same rule applies if the employee’s work requires them to live or eat in the employer’s home. Currently, the maximum deduction amounts are:  

• $2.53 per meal (to a maximum of $33.01 per workweek)
• $31.74 per week for one room
• $38.10 per week for an accommodation that fits 5 or more employees
• $57.11 per week for an accommodation that fits 4 or fewer employees

Deductions For Special Clothing Required For Work 

Mandatory work clothing (uniforms, etc.) must be provided for free to any minimum wage workers. While workers who make over minimum wage may have their pay deducted for clothing purchases and upkeep, they must still make minimum wage or above after deductions. Before these deductions are made, the employer must have written consent.  

Deductions For Raw Materials, Equipment & Merchandise

Materials, merchandise and equipment, like tools, must also be provided for free by the employer if the worker is making minimum wage. Once again, written consent is required but the employer can make deductions if the worker’s wage is over the minimum rate. Additionally, all these commodities must be safe for the staff and in good shape.

Minimum Wage And Overtime In Quebec

For most Canadian employees, the average full-time workweek consists of 40 hours. Many employees will work overtime hours at some point in their careers as well. 

According to The Labour Standards Act, here are Quebec’s normal overtime laws:    

• Required Hours – Overtime pay is usually only granted once an employee has worked more than 40 hours within a single workweek. 
• How Overtime Affects a Worker’s Pay – Generally, workers should be paid about 1.5 times their normal wage for overtime hours. If they’re unionized or obtain permission, they can also accept their overtime pay in vacation time.  
• The Right to Deny Overtime – Quebec workers can refuse to work more than 4 hours past their regular shift or no more than 14 hours a day for a 10-hour shift. If there are no set hours, workers can refuse to work more than 12 hours within 24 hours. Workers can also refuse to work more than 50 hours per week.    

Check out these tax advantages for employees and self-employed workers.

Exceptions To Quebec’s Overtime Rules

All this said, some Quebec workers, such as federal government employees may not be covered by the province’s overtime laws. The same rule often applies if the employee’s normal workweek is more than 40 hours. As is common with logging or sawmill workers in James Bay or other remote locations. Here, refusal is allowed after 60 hours.

In addition, employees have the right to refuse overtime work if they need to tend to their or their spouse’s or child’s health, care, or education. Or, if they are responsible for the health of another family member. However, for this exception to be valid, the worker must not let their responsibilities get in the way of their normal hours.   

Keep in mind that a Quebec worker may not be able to refuse overtime hours in the event of a major emergency. Danger to the life or safety of the general public. Or, if their refusal is counter to their employer’s mandatory code of ethics.  

What Is Minimum Wage?

Minimum wage refers to the lowest amount of income that an employer can legally pay their employee(s) within a specific province or territory. Minimum wage laws work to ensure adequate living quality for various economic groups like women, children, and non-unionized workers. 

Although the minimum wage rate increases periodically in every province and territory, to help with the rising cost of living. Many financial experts argue that these low wages have only increased the unemployment rate among workers who have fewer professional skills. 

The Importance Of Minimum Wage Standards In Canada

As mentioned, employers need to respect their government’s minimum wage laws, as a standard

Just remember that every province and territory has different labour laws, so your minimum wage might be lower or higher than your fellow Canadians.  

Are you a temporary foreign worker? Find out what your rights and responsibilities are as a temporary worker.

Additional Reading

What Is The Wage Earner Protection Program?

What Is The Tribunal Administratif Du Logement In Québec?

Quebec 2023 Financial Budget Explained

Not Sure If Your Employer Is Paying You A Fair Wage? 

In that case, it’s a good idea to brush up on your province or territory’s labour laws. For instance, Quebec’s labour laws dictate that minimum wage workers should earn at least $15.25 an hour. You don’t have to pay for special work clothes and are allowed to refuse certain overtime hours. Don’t forget, you have rights when it comes to your job.   

Minimum Wage in Quebec 2024 FAQs