Alberta
Minimum Wage
What is 'minimum wage'?This is the minimum amount employers must pay workers within the province of Alberta. The Government of Alberta outlines minimum wage within the Employment Standards Code.
What is Alberta's minimum wage?It is $8.80 per hour as of April 1, 2009.
Will the minimum wage be different for students and youth?No. The minimum wage is $8.80 per hour for students and youth.
What percentage of working Albertans are earning minimum wage?Approximately 1.3% of working Albertans earn minimum wage, or about 19,740 people. Of those 19,740 people, 43.6% were between the ages 15-19 years old. The majority of minimum wage earners, 95.2% were in non-unionized jobs.
What is the average hourly wage most Albertans make?The average hourly wage Albertans make is $24.17 per hour.
Am I covered by the minimum wage law in Alberta?
The Alberta minimum wage laws cover all employees. Exemptions from the minimum wage include the following employees:
- real estate brokers
- securities sales persons
- insurance sales persons paid entirely by commission
- students engaged in a work experience program approved by the Minister of Learning or Minister of Human Resources and Employment
- students engaged in an off-campus education program provided under the School Act
- extras in a film or video production
- counsellors or instructors at an educational or recreational camp operated on a non-profit basis for children or handicapped individuals or for religious purposes and
farm employees
What is the minimum wage for Domestic Employees?
A domestic employee is an employee who is employed to do domestic work and lives or lives primarily in the employer's home. A casual babysitter is not considered a domestic employee.
- An employee living in their employer's home is entitled to wages of at least $1,677 per month. An employer may deduct from the minimum wage $2.89 per meal the employee consumes and $3.82 for each day that the employer provides the employee with a place to stay. These charges can be adjusted for meals not consumed or for days where lodging is not provided.
- An employee not living in their employer's home is entitled to minimum wage of $8.80 per hour for all hours worked. An employer may make meal deductions not exceeding $2.89 per meal.
What is the minimum wage for some Sales Persons and Professional Employees?
A variety of salespersons and professional employees are currently entitled to at least the weekly minimum wage of $352 as of April 1, 2009.
Which legislation determines the minimum wage?The Alberta Employment Standards Code and Employment Standards Regulation.
Further Information: Click here to view Alberta's excellent provincial website which provides comprehensive information on Employment Standards in the province. Sources: Statistics Canada, Alberta Employment and Immigration |
