What is the Minimum Wage in British Columbia?

British Columbia's minimum wage is $9.50 per hour. A total of 9 Canadian provinces or territories have a minimum wage rate higher then British Columbia.

A full time hourly worker in British Columbia earning minimum wage will earn a total of $380.00 per week and approximately $19,760.00 per year (based on an 8-hour work day and a 260-day work year). Remember that, with tax deductions, the actual amount earned will likely be lower.

British Columbia Minimum Wage & Labor Law

British Columbia's hourly minimum wage rate is applicable to all employees. Unlike other provinces, there are no special rules for employees working on commission or tipped employees. Tips are not considered wages, and tip earnings do not count toward British Columbia's Minimum Wage - all tipped employees are entitled to the minimum wage rate hourly in addition to any recieved tips.

British Columbia has a First Job/Entry Level Minimum Wage - New workers with no work experience before November 15, 2001 can be paid at an initial minimum wage rate of $6.00 per hour. Once the employee has worked for at least 500 hours (with any number of employers), they are entitled to the full minimum wage rate.

Special Minimum Wage Rates in British Columbia - Some specific types of employees are covered by different minimum wage rates in British Columbia. Domestic workers (caretakers, maids, etc) who live in their employer's house are entitled to a daily minimum wage of $80, and resident caretakers in apartment buildings are entitled to $480 per month plus $19.25 per apartment (if the building has less then 60 apartments) or $1,635 per month (if the building has over 60 apartments). Finally, farm workers harvesting crops may be entitled to a special per-piece minimum wage rate effective in 2003.

Minimum Pay for Reporting to Work in British Columbia - A special provision to BC's Employment Standards law entitles all workers to be paid for at least two hours, even if they work for less then two hours. If an employee is scheduled for 8 hours of work and reports to work, they are entitled to be paid for at least four hours. An employee may not be eligible for these minimum daily pay regulations if they are unfit for work or are in violation of health or safety laws.

British Columbia Overtime Pay Rates - All employees in British Columbia are entitled to special raised overtime minimum wage rates for overtime work.

• If an employee works OVER eight hours in a single day, he/she is entitled to one and a half times the regular minimum wage for the next four hours worked and double the minimum wage for any time worked over twelve hours total.
• If an employee work more then 40 hours in a week (Sunday to Saturday), he/she is entitled to one and a half times the regular minimum wage for all hours worked over 40. Only the first eight hours worked in a day are counted for the weekly overtime total.

What is the Minimum Wage?

The British Columbia Minimum Wage is the lowest hourly wage employers in British Columbia can legally pay their employees. The minimum wage is set by the British Columbia government and is periodically updated to reflect the current cost of living and ensure that all workers are paid a fair living wage.

What if my employer is paying me less then the Minimum Wage?

Unless your job is covered by one of British Columbia's legal exemptions to the minimum wage described above, your employer is legally required to pay you at least the hourly minimum wage of $9.50 per hour. If you believe your employer is illegally paying you less then the British Columbia minimum wage, contact the British Columbia Department of Labor immediately and they will advocate on your behalf.

Need more information? Find data on the Minimum Wage in other provinces.