The minimum wage in New Brunswick is currently set at $15.65 per hour.
In April 2025, New Brunswick's minimum wage increased to $15.65 per hour from the previous minimum of $15.30 per hour. That’s roughly a 2.3% increase, which aligns with the inflation rate in NB.
Below are the details regarding New Brunswick's minimum wage and where it’s heading.
Key Takeaways
- The minimum wage in New Brunswick is currently $15.65 per hour.
- New Brunswick's most recent minimum wage increase was on April 1, 2025.
- New Brunswick has the lowest minimum wage of all the Atlantic provinces.
- The federal minimum wage was increased on April 1, 2025 for federally regulated industries to $17.75.
Is minimum wage going up in New Brunswick?
It’s unlikely that the minimum wage will increase again in 2025, but it's not impossible. The rate has gone up multiple times in a year before, most recently in 2022 – though the pandemic certainly played a role in that.
The most recent rate hike was on April 1, 2025, when minimum wage went up to $15.65 per hour because New Brunswick’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) grew by 2.2% in 2024.
In 2024, about 6% of workers in New Brunswick earned minimum wage, down from 6.7% in 2023. Still, more than half of these earners are part-time workers, and 33% of all minimum wage earners are between the ages of 15 and 19.
Exemptions to the minimum wage in New Brunswick
Some construction workers and/or tradespeople receive different hourly compensation than the typical New Brunswick minimum wage.
Other exceptions to the minimum wage guidelines in New Brunswick are construction workers and tradespeople who work on government buildings and/or have government contracts. These jobs require people with specific training and skill sets, resulting in a rather long list of job titles that fall into this category.
Here's a list of some – not all – of these government construction jobs and their wage requirements:
- Air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics: $24.57
- Bricklayers: $20.92
- Cement finishers: $17.30
- Electricians: $20.62
- Heavy-duty equipment mechanics: $16.88
- Ironworkers: $24.15
- Mortar workers: $15.78
- Sheet Metal workers: $19.17
For more information, see: 2007-34 - Minimum Wage for Categories of Employees in Crown Construction Work.
New Brunswick minimum wage history
In 2019, New Brunswick announced it would adjust the minimum wage each year in line with the percentage change in the province’s CPI. Before then, minimum wage increased incrementally year-over-year.
Here’s a look at the past 10 years and how minimum wage has increased:
| Year | Minimum wage (per hour) |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $15.65 |
| 2024 | $15.30 |
| 2023 | $14.75 |
| 2022 | $13.75 |
| 2022 | $12.75 |
| 2021 | $11.75 |
| 2020 | $11.70 |
| 2019 | $11.50 |
| 2018 | $11.25 |
| 2017 | $11.00 |
| 2016 | $10.65 |
| 2015 | $10.30 (no increase) |
| 2014 | $10.30 |
| 2013 | $10.00 (no increase) |
Increases took place on April 1 each year listed above, except for 2022 which had an extra increase on October 1. In 2013 and 2015, the wages held steady and didn’t change.
How does New Brunswick minimum wage compare with other provinces in Canada?
New Brunswick has the lowest minimum wage in Atlantic Canada, and the third-lowest in all of Canada. It’s only higher than the minimum wage in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
New Brunswick used to have one of the highest minimum wages in Atlantic Canada, back in 2023. Hopefully, the rate increase in 2026 will be substantial.
What is a living wage in New Brunswick?
The living wage in New Brunswick is calculated by the Human Development Council and varies from city to city. The last study was conducted in October of 2024, and the numbers are based on the real cost of living in the province. Overall, the living wage of New Brunswick is sitting at $24.62.
Here’s the breakdown of a few select cities:
- Fredericton: $25.88 per hour
- Moncton: $24.07 per hour
- Saint John: $24.07 per hour
These are the wages that a resident would need to make in order to meet their basic needs. As you can see, it’s much higher than the current minimum wage.
To find out more, see: Living Wages in New Brunswick 2024.
Federal minimum wage increase
On April 1, 2025, the federal minimum wage was increased to $17.75. The federal minimum wage is calculated annually based on how much Canada’s CPI changed from the previous year.
This change will increase the minimum wage for workers in federally regulated private sectors. Some workplaces include:
- Banks
- Postal services
- Air and road transportation
- Telecommunications (telephone, internet, etc.)
- Radio and TV broadcasting
If the provincial or territorial minimum wage rate is higher than the federal rate, however, these employees receive whichever wage is higher.
FAQ
What is the New Brunswick minimum wage?
Currently, the minimum wage in New Brunswick is set at $15.65 per hour. This rate came into effect on April 1, 2025. The previous three changes have seen this rate increase steadily each time.
Is New Brunswick minimum wage going up in 2025?
This province's minimum wage increased to $15.65 per hour on April 1, 2025. The minimum wage rate in New Brunswick is assessed every year and adjusted by the percentage change seen in the province’s Consumer Price Index.
Does New Brunswick have the highest minimum wage in Atlantic Canada?
Unfortunately, no, it's not the highest. New Brunswick actually has the lowest minimum wage rate within the Atlantic provinces. Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island are tied for the highest at $16.00 per hour.
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