Minimum Wage In British Columbia 2024

Last Updated On 19 June 2024, 11:45 AM EDT (Toronto Time)

The new BC minimum wage increase will come into effect on June 1, 2024, making it the highest minimum hourly wage as compared to any other Canadian province.

Effective June 1, British Columbia will increase the minimum wage from $16.75 per hour to $17.40 per hour.

This 65-cent increase in British Columbia’s minimum wage is a 3.9% increase, which is consistent with the average inflation rate in the province.

The minimum wage applies to every worker regardless of whether employees are paid hourly, by salary, commission, or on an incentive basis.

If an employee’s salary is less than the minimum wage for the hours worked, the employer must make up the difference.

Furthermore, special minimum wage for liquor servers, live-in camp leaders, live-in home support workers, and resident caretakers will also increase on June 1st.

Liquor servers get paid the general minimum hourly wage as well as any tips or gratuities they get.

This means that liquor servers will get paid $17.40 per hour plus additional gratuities or tips.

Live-in camp leaders are paid a daily rate and will be entitled to increase in their minimum daily compensation from $133.69 to $138.93 per day.

Similarly, live-in home support workers will see their daily minimum payment increase from $124.73 to $129.62.

Resident caretakers are paid monthly and their pay depends on number of suites in the building they work.

For resident caretakers in a building with 9 to 60 residential suites, the minimum monthly compensation will increase to $1,041.80 plus $41.74 for each suite.

For resident caretakers in a building with 61 or more residential suites, the minimum monthly compensation will increase to $3,548.63 per month.

Actual Living Wages are much higher than minimum wages in British Columbia

With increase minimum hourly wage rates, there is always a debate over the actual living wage, which is much higher and is the minimum amount needed to meet the basic requirements.

At this point, B.C. is well positioned for workers with lowest unemployment rate and highest minimum hourly wage, but still falls short of meeting the living wage rates.

Clayoquot Sound $26.51
Columbia Valley $22.63
Comox Valley $22.02
Cowichan Valley $25.20
Daajing Giids $26.25
Dawson Creek $20.64
Fraser Valley $20.66
Golden $25.78
Kamloops $20.91
Kelowna $24.60
Metro Vancouver $25.68
Nanaimo $22.87
Nelson $21.14
Penticton $24.60
Powell River $25.06
Prince George $22.09
Revelstoke $24.60
Sunshine Coast $25.61
Trail $21.55
Victoria $25.40

The living wage in Metro Vancouver and Victoria are around $25.50 per hour as compared official hourly minimum pay of $17.40 effective June 1.

This is the minimum required hourly pay for each of the 2 working parents with 2 children to meet their basic expenses which includes rent, childcare, food and transportation.

B.C. Minimum Wage Vs. Rest of Canada

B.C. has the highest minimum hourly wage as compared to rest of major Canadian provinces as well as the federal minimum wage.

Only Canadian territories, Yukon and Nunavut has the higher hourly wage rates, but it is incomparable given the huge difference in population.

Province / Territory	Current hourly Minimum Wage	Next Raise Schedule
Canada (only federally regulated private sectors)	$17.30	April 1, 2025
British Columbia	$16.75	$17.40 per hour, effective June 1, 2024
Ontario	$16.55	$17.20 per hour effective October 1, 2024
Newfoundland and Labrador	$15.60	April 1, 2025
Prince Edward Island	$15.40	April 1, 2025
New Brunswick	$15.30	April 1, 2025
Manitoba	$15.30	$15.80 per hour, effective October 1, 2024
Quebec	$15.25	$15.75 per hour, effective May 1, 2024
Nova Scotia	$15.20	October 1, 2024
Alberta	$15.00	Yet to be decided
Saskatchewan	$14.00	$15 per hour, effective October 1, 2024

minimum wage in Canada

What is minimum wage in BC?

Currently, the minimum wage in BC is $16.75 per hour, but it will increase to $17.40 per hour on June 1, 2024.

What is minimum wage in Ontario?

$16.55 is the minimum hourly wage in Ontario which is scheduled to rise to $17.40 per hour on October 1, 2024.

When does minimum wage go up in BC?

The minimum wage will go up in BC to $17.40 per hour on June 1, 2024.

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Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) licensed by CICC (formerly known as ICCRC) with member number R708618. He brings extensive knowledge of immigration law and new changes to rapidly evolving IRCC.