Working in New Brunswick: minimum wage, standards and wages
Minimum wage, the employment standards office, typical wages, unemployment and what is deducted from a pay cheque in New Brunswick.
Minimum wage
- General minimum wage
- $15.90 per hour (since April 1, 2026)
Source: official minimum wage page ↗, read on 2026-11-13.
Special rates and details
- Minimum overtime rate: $23.85 an hour, after 44 hours in a week.
- Adjusted every April 1 based on New Brunswick's Consumer Price Index.
Special rates can apply to students, servers, home workers or some farm work. Check the official page.
Your rights at work
Hours, overtime, vacation, public holidays, leaves and termination pay are set by provincial law and enforced by Employment Standards Branch. If you are not paid what you are owed, you can file a complaint there, usually within a time limit. Official site ↗
Banks, airlines, telecoms, railways and interprovincial trucking follow the federal Canada Labour Code instead.
The job market in numbers
| Indicator | New Brunswick | Canada | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 7.4% | 6.7% | 2026-10 |
| Median hourly wage | $28.72 | $32.00 | 2026-10 |
| Job vacancy rate | 2.5% | 2.8% | 2026-08 |
| Average weekly earnings | $1,268 | $1,355 | 2026-08 |
Source: Statistics Canada, updated automatically. Wages by occupation →
On your pay cheque
Your employer deducts federal and provincial income tax, Canada Pension Plan contributions and Employment Insurance premiums. Estimate your take-home pay →
If you lose your job
Employment Insurance pays up to 55% of your average insurable earnings, to a maximum of $729 a week (2026), for 14 to 45 weeks. Apply as soon as you stop working.
Source: Government of Canada, EI benefit amount ↗, read on 2026-11-13.
- New Brunswick Harmonized Sales Tax Credit — Quarterly payment that offsets part of the HST for lower-income households.
- Social Assistance — Financial help for people who cannot meet their basic needs.
General information, not legal or financial advice. Figures show their source and the date they were read; confirm with the official body before making a decision.
Guides for this province
- Renting in New Brunswick: rights, rent increases and average rents
- Working in New Brunswick: minimum wage, standards and wages
- Moving to New Brunswick: health card, driver's licence and taxes
- Cost of living in New Brunswick: prices, rent, wages and taxes
- Buying a home in New Brunswick: land transfer tax, rebates and first-time buyer help
- Health care in New Brunswick: health card, drug plans and dental help
- Studying in New Brunswick: tuition, student aid and grants
- Seniors in New Brunswick: pensions, supplements and programs
- Taxes in New Brunswick: income tax rates, sales tax and take-home pay (2026)
- Families in New Brunswick: child benefits and family programs
- Immigrating to New Brunswick: nominee program, steps and processing times