20 hrs/week
Nunavut
$395.00/wk · $20,540.00/yr
British Columbia
$365.00/wk · $18,980.00/yr
All Canada minimum wage comparisons
Nunavut +$1.50/hr · 2026
Nunavutvs
British ColumbiaMinimum Wage 2026
In 2026, Nunavut wins on the general minimum wage: $19.75/hour vs $18.25/hour in British Columbia — a gap of $1.50/hour. At full-time (40 hrs/week), that is roughly $3,120.00 more gross income per year before taxes. This page compares floors, federal CLC context, and scheduled increases; use our hourly and Canada tax calculators for take-home.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
$19.75Nunavut
$18.25British Columbia
$1.50Hourly gap
$3,120.00FT annual gap
Nunavut has the higher general minimum wage
$19.75/hr vs $18.25/hr — a $1.50/hr gap ($3,120.00/yr FT gross).
Nunavut wins · 2026
Nunavut
Winner$19.75/hr
$41,080.00/yr FT · effective September 1, 2025
British Columbia
$18.25/hr
$37,960.00/yr FT · effective June 1, 2026
Gap: $1.50/hr · $3,120.00/yr FT ($260.00/mo)
Why Nunavut wins
- Nunavut's general minimum is $1.50/hr higher ($19.75 vs $18.25).
- At 40 hours/week, that is about $3,120.00 more gross pay per year ($260.00/month).
- Nunavut has a published scheduled increase; British Columbia does not list one in our tracker.
Side-by-side metrics
| Metric | Nunavut | British Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| General minimum | $19.75/hr | $18.25/hr |
| FT annual gross (40×52) | $41,080.00 | $37,960.00 |
| vs federal CLC | At/above CLC | At/above CLC |
| Scheduled increase | Yes | None listed |
Pay by hours/week
Gross pay at each jurisdiction's general minimum (before taxes).
| Hours | Nunavut / wk | British Columbia / wk | Nunavut / yr | British Columbia / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 hrs | $395.00 | $365.00 | $20,540.00 | $18,980.00 |
| 30 hrs | $592.50 | $547.50 | $30,810.00 | $28,470.00 |
| 40 hrs | $790.00 | $730.00 | $41,080.00 | $37,960.00 |
30 hrs/week
Nunavut
$592.50/wk · $30,810.00/yr
British Columbia
$547.50/wk · $28,470.00/yr
40 hrs/week
Nunavut
$790.00/wk · $41,080.00/yr
British Columbia
$730.00/wk · $37,960.00/yr
Pros & caveats
Nunavut
Pros
- Higher provincial/territorial floor ($19.75 vs $18.25)
- At or above the federal CLC $18.15 floor
- Published scheduled increase on the books
British Columbia
Pros
- At or above the federal CLC $18.15 floor
Cons / caveats
- Lower floor than Nunavut ($18.25 vs $19.75)
- No scheduled increase listed in our tracker
Planning guide
How to read the Nunavut vs British Columbia minimum wage comparison
Nunavut has the higher general minimum in 2026. Check federal CLC coverage and take-home tools before deciding which corridor fits workers or payroll.
General floor
Nunavut $19.75/hr vs British Columbia $18.25/hr
FT annual gap
$3,120.00/yr before taxes
vs federal CLC
Nunavut: at/above · British Columbia: at/above
Scheduled raises
Nunavut: listed · British Columbia: none
Before you use this Nunavut vs British Columbia wage gap
Confirm work location
Pay usually follows where hours are worked. Federally regulated workplaces use the higher of CLC and local provincial/territorial rates.
Check special rates
Students, liquor servers, and other special categories may have different floors — see provincial ESA pages.
Check effective dates
Rates are for 2026. Scheduled increases can change the gap mid-year.
Model take-home next
Convert hours with the hourly calculator, then compare Canada tax take-home for net pay.
Federal CLC vs Nunavut and British Columbia
The federal CLC floor is $18.15/hour. Federally regulated employers must pay the higher of that rate and the provincial/territorial rate where the employee usually works. This duel ranks general provincial/territorial floors for provincially regulated workplaces.
Overview
In 2026, Nunavut wins on the general minimum wage: $19.75/hour vs $18.25/hour in British Columbia — a gap of $1.50/hour. At full-time (40 hrs/week), that is roughly $3,120.00 more gross income per year before taxes. This page compares floors, federal CLC context, and scheduled increases; use our hourly and Canada tax calculators for take-home.
FAQ
Nunavut is higher at $19.75/hour versus $18.25 in British Columbia ($1.50/hr gap).
About $3,120.00 more gross per year at 40 hrs/week ($260.00/month), before taxes and overtime.
The federal CLC minimum is $18.15/hour. Nunavut is at or above that floor; British Columbia is at or above. Federally regulated employers must pay the higher of federal and the worksite province/territory rate.
Nunavut: yes — next listed change toward $20.17/hr on September 1, 2026. British Columbia: none listed.
Yes. Rates reflect our 2026 Canada minimum wage tracker (last reviewed against the Labour Program Minimum Wage Database and provincial labour sources). Laws change on fixed dates — verify before payroll changes.
Convert hours with our hourly salary calculator, then run the result through the Canada tax calculator for federal and provincial income tax, CPP/QPP, and EI. Minimum wage figures here are gross floors, not net pay.
Not always. Nunavut has the higher legal floor, but provincial income tax and cost of living can narrow or erase the net advantage. Model both at the same hours with the tax tools.
The ladder shows weekly and annual gross at common hour counts using each jurisdiction's general minimum. It helps translate the hourly gap into cash flow before taxes — overtime and tips are not included.
Use related links below, the reverse matchup (British Columbia vs Nunavut), or the Canada minimum wage compare hub picker for any two provinces or territories.
Compare take-home too
Wage floors are only half the story. See Canada province tax take-home comparisons for federal + provincial + CPP/EI at the same salary.
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