Alberta Minimum Wage: Employee Facts

The general minimum wage in Alberta is currently $15 per hour. The rate increased by $1.40 from $13.60 per hour on Oct. 1, 2018.

The province was the first in Canada to hit $15 when it set the rate in 2018.

The general minimum wage applies to all provincially regulated employees in Alberta who are working full-time, part-time, or hourly — except for students under the age of 18.

SEE ALSO
• Statutory holidays in Alberta
• What you need to know about changes to your job in Alberta
• Federal Minimum Wage in Canada

What is Minimum Wage?

Minimum wage is the lowest hourly pay rate that employers in Alberta can provide a provincially regulated worker.

The province sets and enforces its minimum wage standards, which aim to provide a wage floor for employees — ensuring that individuals receive fair compensation for their labour.

• Search Alberta minimum wage by year: 2024

Alberta’s Employment Standards Code (ESC) provides the legal basis for the province’s minimum wage rates.

The ESC establishes the general minimum wage, as well as different rates for various categories of workers, such as students, salespersons and domestic workers living in their employer’s home.

Minimum wage in Alberta doesn’t include tips or expense money.

Is Minimum Wage In Alberta Tied To Inflation?

No, Alberta’s minimum wage isn’t tied to inflation. However, other provinces, including British Columbia, have tethered their wage to inflation.

Does Alberta Plan to Increase Its Minimum Wage?

Currently, Alberta has no plans to change or increase the provincial minimum wage.

It has been six years since the province last raised the minimum wage from $13.60 per hour in 2018. Some have called the situation “heartless.”

SEE ALSO
• Are Alberta employers required to give pay raises?
• Fired after asking for a raise in Alberta

Do Salaried Employees Get Minimum Wage?

Yes, salaried employees in Alberta must be paid at least minimum wage.

Employers in Alberta must “top up” payment for their staff if their pay dips below the minimum wage.

Do I Get Severance If I’m Fired From a Minimum Wage Job in Alberta?

Yes. All non-unionized employees in Alberta working a minimum wage job are entitled to full severance pay when they are fired or let go.

This applies to those working in full-time or part-time positions in the province.

SEE ALSO
• Do I have to look for a new job after getting fired?
• Can I get my job back if I am fired?
• Employment Law Show: Facts about the termination process

How is Severance Pay Calculated in Alberta?

In Alberta, severance for non-unionized employees can be as much as 24 months’ pay.

This includes individuals working full-time, part-time, or hourly in the province.

The amount of compensation you are entitled to is calculated using several factors, including:

• Age
• Length of service
• Position at the company
• Ability to find new work

WATCH: Employment lawyer Lior Samfiru explains everything you need to know about severance pay on an episode of the Employment Law Show.

To figure out how much you could be owed, use our firm’s free Severance Pay Calculator. It has helped millions of Canadians determine their severance entitlements.

If your company doesn’t provide you with the correct amount, you have been wrongfully dismissed and should take legal action.

We regularly resolve wrongful dismissal claims and can help you secure proper severance.

LEARN MORE
• Should I negotiate my own severance package in Alberta?
• Severance pay during a recession
• Employment Law Show: Things to never do before seeking legal counsel

Minimum Wage for Alberta Students Under 18

The minimum wage for students under 18 in Alberta is $13 per hour. This wage came into effect on Jun. 26, 2019. While this is the baseline, employers are encouraged to compensate above this rate.

• Applicable for up to 28 hours weekly during school sessions.
• After 28 hours, students are entitled to the general minimum wage of $15 per hour.
• Standard overtime regulations remain in effect.

Weekly Minimum Wage Rates in Alberta

Alberta’s minimum weekly wage rate is $598. It applies to a variety of professions, including:

• Architects
• Accountants
• Chiropractors
• Engineers
• Geoscientists
• Sales representatives
• Lawyers
• Healthcare professionals (i.e. dentists, optometrists, podiatrists, etc.)

Alberta’s “Domestic Employee” Wage Rates

A “domestic employee” in Alberta is defined as an individual who is hired to care for, and ensure, the comfort of members in an employer’s household.

Notably, this doesn’t include casual babysitting.

Wage Structure Based On Living Arrangements

Staff Who Live With Their Employer:

• Earn a set monthly rate of $2,848.
• Regardless of hours worked, they are entitled to the full monthly wage.
• Pro-rated wages are permitted for part-time schedules, such as morning shifts.
• Deduction guidelines: Employers can deduct up to $4.41 for nightly lodging and $3.35 for each meal consumed. Deductions for unconsumed meals are strictly prohibited.

Staff Who Don’t Live With Their Employer:

• Earn the standard minimum wage of $15 per hour for all worked hours.
• Although a deduction up to $3.35 is allowed for meals consumed, these employees aren’t subject to overtime pay and work hour limits.

Key Rights For Domestic Workers

Minimum rights and entitlements for domestic workers in Alberta include:

• Stipulated minimum wage.
• Paid statutory holidays.
• Detailed earnings and deductions statement every pay cycle.
• At least a 30-minute break for continuous 5-hour work periods.
• One mandatory rest day each week.
• Designated vacation periods and corresponding pay.
• Prior notice upon job termination.
• Leaves protected by employment law.

Minimum Wage For Short Periods of Work in Alberta

Three-hour Minimum Pay Rule

Each time employees in Alberta report to work, or work briefly, they are entitled to at least three hours of pay at the minimum wage.

However, this rule is void if the individual can’t work the full three hours.

If the working period is less than three continuous hours, employers in the province must provide the equivalent to three hours at minimum wage.

Additionally, if an employee’s standard wage surpasses the minimum wage, they might be paid their higher rate for less than three hours of work.

Two-hour Minimum Compensation

Certain jobs in Alberta are entitled to at least two hours of pay at no less than the minimum wage:

• School bus drivers
• Home care workers
• Adolescents (13 to 15-year-olds) working on school days.
• Part-time staff in non-profit recreational or athletic programs by municipalities, Metis Settlements, or community service organizations

Split Shift Employees

Employees in Alberta working split shifts with more than a one-hour break between segments are entitled to the above minimum compensations for each segment.

Mandatory Meetings and Training in Alberta

If a mandatory meeting or training occurs on an employee’s usual day off, the individual is entitled to at least the minimum wage and potential overtime.

For sessions under three hours, Alberta’s three-hour minimum pay rule applies.

Notes to consider:

• Employees attending meetings or training after their shift should be paid the agreed wage or applicable overtime — whichever is higher.
• Meeting or training pay can’t fall below the province’s minimum wage.
• Compensation for staff must match or surpass the described minimum for brief work periods.
• Job-related sessions that aren’t mandatory warrant the agreed wage or overtime if attended — maintaining the above minimum compensation.

“On Call” or “On Standby” Staff At Home

Employers in Alberta don’t have to pay “on call” or “on standby” staff if no work is performed at home.

However, if work is conducted at an employee’s home, a three-hour minimum pay is mandated for each working period.

Calculating Wages for Commissioned Employees in Alberta

In Alberta, to verify that employees receiving incentive-based pay or commission meet the minimum wage for all worked hours within a pay cycle, the following steps are essential:

1. Identify total earnings: This is the sum of the employee’s wages for the set pay period (not exceeding one month).
2. Determine average hourly rate: Divide the total wages by the number of hours worked during that period.
3. Compare with minimum wage: If the calculated hourly wage is below the minimum wage, the employee should receive at least the minimum wage for all worked hours. If the rate surpasses the minimum wage, the employee retains their commission or incentive-based earnings.

Exceptions: Employees who are eligible for a weekly minimum wage are exempted from this section since there is no necessity to track daily working hours.

Allowable Deductions in Alberta

Meals and Lodging Deductions

In Alberta, employers are permitted to make certain deductions with an employee’s written consent:

• Meals: Up to $3.35 for each meal that the employee consumes. Importantly, no deductions should be made for uneaten meals.
• Lodging: Up to $4.41 daily when lodging is provided.

Uniform-related Deductions

Employers in Alberta can’t deduct any expenses related to uniforms.

This encompasses costs tied to purchasing, using, cleaning, and repairing uniforms, or any other apparel that employees are required to wear during their working hours.

Jobs Exempt From Minimum Wage in Alberta

The following employees are exempt from minimum wage in Alberta:

• Municipal police service members
• Real estate brokers
• Securities salespeople
• Insurance salespeople who are paid entirely by commission
• Students in a work experience program approved by the Alberta government
• Students in an off-campus education program provided under the Education Act
• Post-secondary academic staff
• Counsellors or instructors at a non-profit educational or recreational camp for children, handicapped individuals, or religious groups
• Extras in a film or video production

My Employer Isn’t Paying My Wages, What Should I Do?

The ESC requires employers in Alberta to pay a worker’s wages at least twice per month. That income can’t be lower than the applicable minimum wage.

If your employer fails to pay your wages, you can:

• File a complaint with Employment Standards: They will investigate your claim and order your employer to pay the money they owe you.
• Explore a constructive dismissal claim: If you have grounds for a constructive dismissal claim, the law allows you to quit your job and pursue full severance pay. However, you shouldn’t resign before contacting an experienced Alberta employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.

Additional Resources

At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, we have created additional resources about your employment-related rights in Canada:

• Statutory Holidays: Find out when statutory holidays occur in Alberta, B.C., and Ontario.
• Minimum Wage: In addition to Alberta, we have guides to minimum wage for the federal, B.C., and Ontario jurisdictions.
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP): Learn more about when CPP payments are made in 2024.
• Minimum Legal Working Age: in Alberta, B.C. and Ontario.