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Minimum wage

Last updated on February 26, 2026

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Employees must be paid at least minimum wage

The minimum wage in B.C. is currently $17.85 per hour (as of June 1, 2025).

  • June 1, 2026 – $18.25 per hour
  • June 1, 2025 – $17.85 per hour
  • June 1, 2024 – $17.40 per hour
  • June 1, 2023 – $16.75 per hour
  • June 1, 2022 – $15.65 per hour
  • June 1, 2021 – $15.20 per hour
  • June 1, 2020 – $14.60 per hour
  • June 1, 2019 – $13.85 per hour

This hourly minimum wage applies to most employees regardless of how they're 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.

Some employees in specific industries have different minimum wages, as outlined below.

Minimum wage rates for specific employees

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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

As of June 1, 2021, liquor servers must be paid the regular minimum wage rate for hours worked, in addition to any tips or gratuities they receive.

  • June 1, 2026 – $18.25 per hour
  • June 1, 2025 – $17.85 per hour
  • June 1, 2024 – $17.40 per hour
  • June 1, 2023 – $16.75 per hour
  • June 1, 2022 – $15.65 per hour
  • June 1, 2021 – $15.20 per hour
  • June 1, 2020 – $13.95 per hour
  • June 1, 2019 – $12.70 per hour
 

Live-in camp leaders

Live-in camp leaders are paid a daily rate for each day or part day worked.

  • June 1, 2026 – $145.64
  • June 1, 2025 – $142.61
  • June 1, 2024 – $138.93
  • June 1, 2023 – $133.69
  • June 1, 2022 – $125.06
  • June 1, 2021 – $121.65
  • June 1, 2020 – $116.86
  • June 1, 2019 – $110.87
 

Live-in home support workers

Live-in home support workers are paid a daily rate for each day or part day worked.

  • June 1, 2026 – $135.88
  • June 1, 2025 – $133.05
  • June 1, 2024 – $129.62
  • June 1, 2023 – $124.73
  • Prior to June 1, 2023 – $116.68
 

Resident caretakers​

The minimum wage for resident caretakers is a monthly wage based on the number of suites in the building.

For a building with nine to 60 residential suites:

  • June 1, 2026 – $1,092.10 per month plus $43.75 for each suite
  • June 1, 2025 – $1,069.36 per month plus $42.84 for each suite
  • June 1, 2024 – $1,041.80 per month plus $41.74 for each suite
  • June 1, 2023 – $1,002.53 per month plus $40.17 for each suite
  • June 1, 2022 – $937.82 per month plus $37.58 for each suite
  • June 1, 2021 – $912.28 per month plus $36.56 for each suite
  • June 1, 2020 – $876.35 per month plus $35.12 for each suite
  • June 1, 2019 – $831.45 per month plus $33.32 for each suite

For a building with 61 or more residential suites:

  • June 1, 2026 – $3,719.96 per month
  • June 1, 2025 – $3,642.51 per month
  • June 1, 2024 – $3,548.63 per month
  • June 1, 2023 – $3,414.85 per month
  • June 1, 2022 – $3,194.43 per month
  • June 1, 2021 – $3,107.42 per month
  • June 1, 2020 – $2,985.04 per month
  • June 1, 2019 – $2,832.11 per month

Where a resident caretaker works less than a full month, wages are pro-rated based on number of days worked.

 

Online platform workers

Online platform workers, also called "gig workers", do either or both of the following work:

  • Delivery services: Picking up online orders and delivering them to customers
  • Ride-hail services: Transporting passengers who submit requests to an online platform

Online platform workers must receive a minimum hourly wage for engaged time. Engaged time starts when they accept an order or request, and ends when they complete it or it's cancelled.

  • June 1, 2025 – $21.89 per hour
  • June 1, 2025 – $21.43 per hour
  • June 1, 2024 – $20.88 per hour

In addition to wages, online platform workers also receive a distance expense allowance to offset transport costs during engaged time:

  • Delivery services: At least $0.35 per km while using a form of transport other than walking
  • Ride-hail services: At least $0.45 per km while operating a motor vehicle

Minimum wage increases

Every year since June 1, 2024, each minimum wage goes up by the same percentage as the BC All-Items Consumer Price Index (CPI), rounded to the nearest 5 cents for the general minimum wage and the nearest cent for all other minimum wages. If the CPI goes down, minimum wages stay the same.

Piece rates

Some types of employees are paid a piece rate. A piece rate is a rate of pay based on a measurable quantity of work completed. Employees must be told what the piece rates are before they start work. They may also be paid a different set wage for specific tasks (e.g. paid an hourly rate).

Find out about piece rates for farm workers.

What you can do

If you're having issues at work, find out what you can do:

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References from the Employment Standards Act and Regulation