So far in 2025, Alberta’s minimum wage remains at $15.00 per hour, a rate in place since 2018. For students under 18, a lower wage of $13.00 per hour applies for the first 28 hours per week during the school term, with regular rates applying beyond that limit.
While some provinces adjust their minimum wage annually to match inflation, Alberta has kept its rate steady. This has sparked discussion online as to whether wages should increase to reflect rising costs of living or whether they should remain the same, especially with the inflated cost of essentials like rent, groceries, and transportation.
So in this blog, we’ll go over Alberta’s minimum wage for 2025, including potential changes and different wages for each profession (if applicable), let’s go!
As mentioned above, Alberta’s minimum wage remains at $15.00 per hour for most workers. This rate has been in place since October 1, 2018, and applies to employees aged 18 and older. For students under 18, the minimum wage is $13.00 per hour for up to 28 hours per week. Any additional hours are paid at the general rate of $15.00 per hour.
Certain industries have different wage structures. For example:
Even with inflation and a skyrocketing cost of living, Alberta has not announced any wage increases for 2025 but with the current inflation rates, it’s questionable whether the current wages are enough to support workers, especially in expensive cities such as Calgary and Edmonton.
Alberta’s minimum wage is one of the lowest rates among Canadian provinces. British Columbia raised its minimum wage to $17.40 per hour in 2024, with another increase planned for 2025. Ontario also raised its minimum wage to $17.20 per hour as of October 2024.
Meanwhile, the highest minimum wage in Canada is found in Nunavut, where workers earn $19.00 per hour due to the extremely high cost of living. This is because imports to the north cost quite a lot, making things triple or double the price as down south. Other provinces, such as Quebec ($15.75) and Manitoba ($15.30), also surpass Alberta’s rate.
| Province/Territory | Minimum Wage As Of 2025 |
| British Columbia | $17.40/hr (Going up to $17.85/hr on June 1st, 2025) |
| Alberta | $15.00/hr |
| Saskatchewan | $15.00/hr |
| Manitoba | $15.80/hr |
| Ontario | $17.20/hr |
| Quebec | $15.75/hr (Going up to $16.10/hr on May 1st, 2025) |
| New Brunswick | $15.30/hr (Going up to $15.65 on April 1,t 2025) |
| Nova Scotia | $15.20/hr (Going up to $15.70 on April 1st, 20,25 and then to $16.50 on October 1st, 2025) |
| PEI (Prince Edward Island) | $16.00 |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | $15.60/hr (Going up to $16.00 on April, 1st 2025) |
| Yukon | $17.59/hr |
| Northwest Territories | $16.70/hr |
| Nunavut | $19/hr |
With rising living costs and inflation, many provinces have made regular wage adjustments, but Alberta has not increased its minimum wage in over six years. Do you think it’s time for a necessary raise?
Holiday and overtime pay are not the same as standard minimum wage. As of 2025, not much has changed in the province in terms of holiday or overtime pay.
For general vacation time, eligible employees receive holiday pay calculated as 5% of their wages, general holiday pay, and vacation pay earned in the four weeks immediately preceding the holiday. If an employee works on a statutory holiday, they are entitled to 1.5 times their regular wage rate for each hour worked, in addition to their holiday pay.
Overtime pay is mandated at 1.5 times the employee’s regular wage rate for all hours worked beyond the standard work hours.
Currently, there are no announced plans to increase holiday or overtime pay rates within the province, but with the federal minimum wage increasing in April of 2025, we may see some subtle changes to the system.
The minimum wage of each province directly influences the local economy and both workers and businesses. There are pros and cons to a minimum wage increase.
A minimum wage increase can be a positive for employees as this means more money is going into your bank account every two weeks. It may help with living expenses such as rent, food, and healthcare. It can also lead to higher job satisfaction and productivity and may reduce turnover rates for some businesses.
Unfortunately for most businesses, a minimum wage increase can negatively affect revenue which may pose a few challenges. Higher labour costs may lead to price increases or potentially halt job opportunities and affects the local economy. Some businesses may adapt by improving efficiency or focusing on higher-value services, while others may struggle to maintain profit margins and may go out of business.
That’s why increasing the minimum wage is a tough call and though it’s the most ethical option, it can negatively impact the economy.
As of now, there are no announced increases for Alberta’s minimum wage in 2025.
Most employees are entitled to the minimum wage; however, certain occupations, such as domestic workers may have exemptions or different standards.
No, tips and gratuities are not included in the minimum wage and are considered additional income.
Standard work hours are typically 40 hours per week, but even if you work only 1 hour a week, you will still get at least $15/hr.
Overtime is typically paid at 1.5 times the employee’s regular wage for hours worked beyond 8 per day or on statutory holidays.
As of March 2025, Alberta’s minimum wage remains at $15.00 per hour, unchanged since 2018. Other provinces, however, have increased their minimum wage overtime, and federally regulated industries will see a wage hike to $17.75 per hour on April 1, 2025, which is a 2.4% increase.
Despite these adjustments elsewhere, Alberta has not announced plans to raise its minimum wage. It’s important to note that a TELUS Health report projects that average base salaries in Alberta are expected to increase by 3.54% in 2025, and this is because of ongoing labor shortages within the province.
While this projection suggests potential wage growth, it does not guarantee an increase in the statutory minimum wage. What do you think? Do you think it’s time for Alberta to finally increase its minimum wage?
