- BC minimum wage history
- How BC sets the new rate each June
- Special minimum wages in BC
- Gig workers: engaged time and the distance allowance
- The 2-hour minimum daily pay rule
- What you can and can't deduct from wages
- Piece rates
- Your BC payroll checklist each June
- How BC compares
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
As of October 2026, the BC minimum wage is $18.25 an hour, in effect since 1 June 2026. It applies to most employees however they're paid, hourly, salaried, on commission or incentive, and if their pay works out below the minimum for the hours worked, the employer has to top it up.
That's the highest general rate of any Canadian province on the federal government's current table, and it's above the federal minimum too. Here's what the number means if you employ people in British Columbia.
BC minimum wage history
| From | General minimum wage (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 1 June 2026 | $18.25 |
| 1 June 2025 | $17.85 |
| 1 June 2024 | $17.40 |
| 1 June 2023 | $16.75 |
| 1 June 2022 | $15.65 |
| 1 June 2021 | $15.20 |
How BC sets the new rate each June
Every year since 1 June 2024, each BC minimum wage has gone up by the same percentage as the BC All-Items Consumer Price Index. The general rate is rounded to the nearest 5 cents and the other minimum wages to the nearest cent. If the CPI goes down, the minimum wages stay the same, so the rate can't fall.
That's the insight for budgeting: you know the date of the next rise, 1 June, and the formula, even before the figure is announced. Build a CPI-sized increase into next year's wage costs now.
Special minimum wages in BC
| Worker | Rate from 1 June 2026 (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Liquor servers | $18.25 an hour, the same as everyone else, plus their tips |
| Online platform workers (delivery and ride-hail) | $21.89 an hour for engaged time |
| Live-in camp leaders | $145.64 a day |
| Live-in home support workers | $135.88 a day |
| Resident caretakers, 9 to 60 suites | $1,092.10 a month plus $43.75 for each suite |
| Resident caretakers, 61 or more suites | $3,719.96 a month |
Liquor servers used to have a lower rate, but since 1 June 2021 they've been paid the regular minimum wage on top of any tips. If you run a bar or restaurant and your payroll still carries a separate server rate, it's out of date.
Gig workers: engaged time and the distance allowance
Online platform workers get the $21.89 minimum only for engaged time, which starts when they accept an order or ride request and ends when they complete it or it's cancelled. On top of that, they receive a distance expense allowance during engaged time: at least $0.35 per km for delivery work using transport other than walking, and at least $0.45 per km for ride-hail work in a motor vehicle, as of October 2026.
The 2-hour minimum daily pay rule
A minimum hourly rate isn't the only floor. Under BC's minimum daily pay rule, an employee who reports for work must be paid for at least 2 hours, even if they work less. If they were scheduled for more than 8 hours, they must be paid for at least 4.
- Send a shop worker home before a 4-hour shift starts because it's quiet, and you still owe 2 hours.
- Send someone home an hour into a 10-hour shift, and you owe 4 hours.
- The rule doesn't apply if the employee is unfit to work, doesn't meet WorkSafeBC health and safety rules, or asked to leave early and you have proof it was their request.
What you can and can't deduct from wages
A minimum wage is only useful if it reaches the employee, which is why BC limits deductions. An employer may only deduct from wages when the law requires it, such as income tax, EI premiums, CPP contributions or a court garnishment, or when the employee approves the deduction in writing. And some deductions are banned even with consent.
- Stolen or damaged company property
- Cash shortages
- Poor quality of work
- A customer who doesn't pay
BC says it's illegal to make employees pay for business expenses, even if they agree. Employment Standards can recover the amount as unpaid wages and fine the employer from $500 to $10,000, as of October 2026. If a till comes up short at closing, that's the business's loss, not the cashier's.
Piece rates
Some employees are paid by the piece, a rate based on a measurable quantity of work. BC says they must be told the piece rates before they start work. Farm workers have their own piece-rate rules.
Your BC payroll checklist each June
- Update the general rate on 1 June, and every special rate you use.
- Check salaried and commission staff still work out at or above the minimum for their hours.
- Recheck gig worker engaged-time rates and the distance allowance if they apply.
- Remind managers about the 2-hour minimum daily pay rule.
How BC compares
| Jurisdiction | General minimum wage (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| British Columbia | $18.25 from 1 June 2026 |
| Federal (federally regulated employers) | $18.15 from 1 April 2026 |
| Ontario | $17.95 from 1 October 2026 |
| Alberta | $15.00 since 26 June 2019 |
| Yukon | $18.51 from 1 April 2026 |
| Nunavut | $20.17 from 1 September 2026 |
The federal table says an employee should get the higher of the federal rate and the rate where they usually work. So a federally regulated employer, such as a bank or airline, with staff in BC pays at least $18.25, not $18.15.
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My verdict
If you employ anyone in BC, $18.25 is your floor from 1 June 2026, and it'll rise again each June with inflation. Update every rate in your payroll on the day, check the special rates if you use gig workers or caretakers, and don't forget the 2-hour rule when you send people home early. That last one is where small employers most often get caught out.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in BC in 2026?
$18.25 an hour, in effect from 1 June 2026, as of October 2026.
When does the BC minimum wage go up?
On 1 June each year. Since 2024 it rises by the same percentage as the BC All-Items CPI and never falls if the CPI goes down.
Do liquor servers in BC get a lower minimum wage?
No. Since 1 June 2021, liquor servers must be paid the regular minimum wage plus their tips.
What is the minimum wage for gig workers in BC?
As of October 2026, $21.89 an hour for engaged time, plus a distance expense allowance.
Must I pay staff if I send them home early in BC?
Usually yes. Employees who report for work must be paid for at least 2 hours, or at least 4 if they were scheduled for more than 8 hours.
Is BC minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage?
Yes. As of October 2026, BC's $18.25 is above the federal $18.15, and federally regulated employers pay the higher rate.
