Minimum Wage

Employees must be paid at least minimum wage per hour

The minimum wage in B.C. is $13.85 an hour (as of June 1, 2019).

June 1, 2020 – $14.60 an hour
June 1, 2021 – $15.20 an hour

Previously, the minimum wage was $12.65 per hour (June 1, 2018 to May 30, 2019).

Minimum wage applies regardless of how employees are paid – hourly, salary, commission or on an incentive basis. If an employee's wage is below minimum wage for the hours they worked, the employer must top up their payment so that it's equal to minimum wage.

Find out why the minimum wage rate is being increased over the next few years.

Some types of employees have different wage rates

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Liquor servers

A liquor server is an employee who:

Works mainly as a server of food or drink or both
Regularly serves liquor directly to customers, guests, members, or patrons
Works in a premises with a liquor licence

Liquor servers must be paid the liquor server minimum wage rate for hours worked, in addition to any tips or gratuities they receive. The rate does not change from shift to shift – even if liquor is not served on every shift.

September 15, 2017 – $10.10 per hour
June 1, 2018 – $11.40 per hour
June 1, 2019 – $12.70 per hour
June 1, 2020 – $13.95 per hour
June 1, 2021 – $15.20 per hour (this rate is the same as regular minimum wage)

The following types of employees are paid regular minimum wage, even if they occasionally serve liquor:

Staff who only mix or pour liquor that is then delivered to customers by a server
Hosts and hostesses
Bussers
Kitchen staff whose main duties do not include serving liquor (e.g. cooks, dishwashers, etc.)

Live-in camp leaders

Live-in camp leaders are paid a daily rate.

September 15, 2017 – $90.80 for each day or part day worked
June 1, 2018 – $101.24 for each day or part day worked
June 1, 2019 – $110.87
June 1, 2020 – $116.86
June 1, 2021 – $121.65

Live-in home support workers

Live-in home support workers are paid a daily rate.

September 15, 2017 – $113.50 per day or part day worked

Resident caretakers

Resident Caretakers Minimum Wage
	For an apartment building containing 9 to 60 suites	For an apartment building containing more than 60 suites
September 15, 2017	$681 per month plus $27.29 for each suite	$2,319.65 per month
June 1, 2018	$759.32 per month plus $30.43 for each suite	$2,586.40 per month
June 1, 2019	$831.45 per month plus $33.32 for each suite	$2,832.11 per month
June 1, 2020	$876.35 per month plus $35.12 for each suite	$2,985.04 per month
June 1, 2021	$912.28 per month plus $35.56 for each suite	$3,107.42 per month

Farm workers

All farm workers must be paid at least minimum wage – except for those doing piece work.

Farm workers who harvest certain crops by hand may be paid a piece rate. The rate must be at least the minimum piece rate for each crop. Employers must post notices that state:

The volume of the picking containers
The volume or weight needed to fill a container
The piece rate for the crop

Farm worker piece rates, including vacation pay (four percent)


Crop	January 1, 2019
Apples	$21.06 a bin (27.1 ft³ / 0.767 m³)
Apricots	$24.23 a 1/2 bin (13.7 ft³/ 0.388 m³⁾
Beans	$0.289 a pound / $0.637 a kg
Blueberries	$0.488 a pound / $1.077 a kg
Brussels sprouts	$0.201 a pound / $0.443 a kg
Cherries	$0.277 a pound / $0.610 a kg
Grapes	$22.38 a 1/2 bin (13.7 ft³ / 0.388 m³)
Mushrooms	$0.290 a pound / $0.639 a kg
Peaches	$22.38 a 1/2 bin (12.6 ft³ / 0.357 m³)
Pears	$23.72 a bin (27.1 ft³ / 0.767 m³)
Peas	$0.360 a pound / $0.794 a kg
Prune plums	$23.72 a 1/2 bin (13.7 ft³ / 0.388 m³)
Raspberries	$0.440 a pound / 0.971 a kg
Strawberries	$0.424 a pound / $0.934 a kg
Daffodils	$0.169 a bunch (10 stems)