Alberta Employment Standards and Minimum Wage

Alberta Employment Standards Overview

Alberta's Employment Standards set out the rights and obligations of employers and employees, including minimum standards that employers must provide. This article is based on official Alberta government information.

Minimum Wage Rates

According to the Employment Standards Regulation, the minimum wage rates in Alberta are:

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 employer's home): $2,848/month

Wages do not include tips or expense money.

Job Creation Student Wage

Effective June 26, 2019, students under 18 who attend school up to grade 12, post-secondary, or vocational school are eligible for a student wage of $13/hour. This rate applies to:

The first 28 hours worked in a week when school is in session; hours beyond 28 must be paid at the general minimum wage of $15/hour.
All regular hours worked when school is not in session (e.g., spring break, Christmas break, summer vacation).

For example, a student working 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 additional 2 hours.

This wage does not apply to youth who are out of school.

Weekly Minimum Wage

The following employees are entitled to a weekly minimum wage of $598:

Direct selling salespersons
Commission salespersons (other than route salespersons)
Salespersons selling goods to be delivered later
Car, truck, recreational vehicle, or bus salespersons
Manufactured home salespersons
Farm machinery salespersons
Heavy duty construction or road construction equipment salespersons
Residential home salespersons employed by a builder
Land agents, architects, accountants, chiropractors, dentists, engineers, geoscientists, lawyers, optometrists, podiatrists, psychologists, veterinarians, agrologists, denturists, information systems professionals

Domestic Employee Wage

Domestic employees (employed in the employer's residence for the care, comfort, and convenience of residents) have the following wage rates:

Living in employer's home: $2,848/month (full monthly rate regardless of hours worked; pro-rating allowed if employee agrees to work part of a month)
Not living in employer's home: $15/hour

Domestic employees are not entitled to overtime compensation or maximum hours of work restrictions.

Allowable Deductions

With written authorization, employers may deduct from wages below minimum wage up to $4.41 per day for lodging and $3.35 per meal consumed; no deductions for meals not consumed.

Exempt Occupations

The following are exempt from minimum wage standards:

Real estate brokers
Securities salespersons
Insurance salespersons paid entirely by commission
Students in a government-approved work experience program
Students in an off-campus education program under the Education Act
Extras in film or video production
Counsellors or instructors at non-profit camps for children, disabled individuals, or religious groups
Municipal police service members
Post-secondary academic staff

Overtime Rules

For detailed rules on overtime hours and pay, refer to the official page "Overtime hours and overtime pay".

Filing a Complaint

If an employee believes their employer is not following the Employment Standards Code, they can file a complaint. Complaints can be made while employed and up to 6 months after the last day of employment.