Basic rules
- Employers must pay at least the minimum wage.
- The current general minimum wage applies to all employees, with the exception of students under 18.
- A job creation student wage was implemented June 26, 2019. Restrictions apply.
- Wages don’t include tips or expense money.
- There are separate weekly and monthly minimum wages for some salespersons and domestic employees.
- Maximum deductions below minimum wage for provided meals and lodging are $3.35 per consumed meal and $4.41 per day’s lodging.
Resources
Minimum wage rates
The following minimum wage rates are set out in the Employment Standards Regulation:
| Type of employee | Minimum wage |
|---|---|
| Most employees (general minimum wage) | $15/hour |
| Students under 18 | $13/hour (restrictions apply) |
| Salespersons (including land agents and certain professionals) | $598/week |
| Domestic employees (living in their employer’s home) | $2,848/month |
Job creation student wage rates
The Employment Standards (Minimum Wage) Amendment Regulation introduces a job creation student wage.
The minimum wage for students under 18 is $13/hour. Employers can choose to pay students more than this minimum wage.
This rate applies to the first 28 hours worked in a week when school is in session. Students must be paid the general minimum wage of $15/hour for any hours exceeding 28 hours in one week. Overtime rules apply.
- For example, a student who worked 30 hours in a week can be paid as low as $13/hour for the first 28 hours, but must be paid no less than $15/hour for the 2 additional hours they worked.
- The job creation student wage of $13/hour applies to all regular hours worked when school is not in session, such as during spring break, Christmas break or during the summer vacation period. Overtime rules apply.
Who the job creation student wage applies to:
- The job creation student wage applies to any student under 18 who attends school up to grade 12, post-secondary or vocational school.
- The job creation student wage only applies to students enrolled in an educational institution and does not apply to youth who are out of school.
Information on the job creation student wage is available for employers and students.
Weekly minimum wage rates
Employees entitled to the weekly minimum wage rate earn $598 per week.
Eligible employees:
- direct selling salesperson
- commission salesperson (other than a route salesperson) selling goods that will be delivered later
- car, truck, recreational vehicle, or bus salesperson
- manufactured home salesperson
- farm machinery salesperson
- heavy duty construction equipment or road construction equipment salesperson
- residential home salesperson employed by builder
- land agent
- architect
- accountant
- chiropractor
- dentist
- engineer or other geoscientist
- lawyer
- optometrist
- podiatrist
- psychologist
- veterinarian
- agrologist
- denturist
- information systems professional
Domestic employee wage rates
Minimum wage rates
- For domestic employees who live in their employer’s homes: $2,848 per month.
- For domestic employees who don’t live in their employer’s home: $15 per hour.
Eligible employees
A domestic employee is a person employed to work in the employer’s residence, for the care, comfort and convenience of members of that residence. Casual babysitting isn’t considered domestic employment.
All domestic employees are entitled to:
- the minimum wage
- general (statutory) holidays with pay
- a copy of their statement of earnings and deductions for each pay period
- a rest period of at least 30 minutes, paid or unpaid, for each consecutive 5 hours of work
- at least 1 day of rest in each work week
- vacations and vacation pay
- notice of termination of employment
- job-protected leaves
For employees who live in their employer’s home:
- employers are required to pay the full monthly minimum wage rate, regardless of the number of hours worked
- pro-rating of the monthly minimum wage is permitted where the employee agrees to work for a portion of a month, such as mornings only
- the maximum allowable deductions an employer can make are $4.41 per night of lodging, and $3.35 per meal; deductions can’t be made for meals not consumed
For employees who don't live in their employer’s home:
- the minimum wage rate applies for all hours worked
- meal deductions from the minimum wage rate cannot exceed $3.35 per meal consumed
The following employment standards don’t apply to domestic employees:
- overtime compensation
- restrictions on maximum hours of work
Allowable deductions
Meals and lodging
Employers can, with written authorization from the employee, reduce the employee’s wages below the minimum wage by a maximum of:
- $4.41 for each day the employer provides the employee with lodging
- $3.35 for each meal consumed by the employee; deductions can’t be made for meals not consumed
Exempt occupations
The following employees are exempt from minimum wage standards:
- real estate brokers
- securities salespersons
- insurance salespersons 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
- extras in a film or video production
- counsellors or instructors at a non-profit educational or recreational camp for children, handicapped individuals, or religious groups
- municipal police service members
- post-secondary academic staff
Make a complaint
If an employee thinks that their employer is not following the rules in the Employment Standards Code, they can make a complaint. Complaints can be made while an employee is still employed and at any time up to 6 months after their last day of employment.
Employment Standards Code
Section 138(1) (f) of the Employment Standards Code empowers the Lieutenant Governor in Council to make regulations respecting minimum wages.
Part 2 of the Employment Standards Regulation sets the minimum wage for employees.
Disclaimer: In the event of any discrepancy between this information and Alberta Employment Standards legislation, the legislation is considered correct.