According to recently released data from Statistics Canada (StatsCan), both salaried and hourly employees in Canada saw their average hourly wages rise in February 2023.
On average, across the country, salaried employees saw their month-over-month wages increase from $42.37 to $42.58 between January and February 2023. The same is true for employees paid on an hourly basis, whose average wage rose from $29.25 to $29.44.
Note: Both average hourly wage increases include overtime hours
In both cases, these increases continue recent trends. Hourly wages for Canada’s salaried employees have now increased for six straight months and hourly-paid workers have seen their wages rise for eight months in a row.
StatsCan’s data also details average hourly wage data by province/territory and by industry, which is what we will explore below.
Average hourly wages – salaried employees, by province/territory
The following table outlines how average hourly wages have changed for salaried employees in each province between December 2022 and February 2023.
Broken down by region, each section below identifies the three industries in each province/territory where salaried employees have experienced the highest average hourly wage increases as well as the three industries where wages have most significantly decreased between January and February 2023.
Alberta (AB)
Highest hourly wage increases
- Transportation and Warehousing (+$3.66) – $40.23 to $43.89
- Manufacturing (+$3.61) – $45.52 to $49.13
- Forestry, Logging and Support (+$3.57) – $38.60 to $42.17
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (-$4.18) – $40.41 to $36.23
- Finance and Insurance (-$2.22) – $44.50 to $42.28
- Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (-$2.04) – $45.50 to $43.46
British Columbia (BC)
Highest hourly wage increases
- Forestry, Logging and Support (+$3.16) – $40.77 to $43.93
- Utilities (+$1.95) – $59.98 to $61.93
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$1.61) – $45.74 to $47.35
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (-$3.96) – $67.75 to $63.79
- Transportation and Warehousing (-$1.53) – $37.08 to $35.55
- Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (-$1.18) – $38.51 to $37.33
Manitoba (MB)
Highest hourly wage increases
- Manufacturing (+$3.52) – $41.06 to $44.58
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$2.54) – $40.87 to $43.41
- Information and Cultural Industries (+$2.52) – $38.13 to $40.65
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (-$4.98) – $40.47 to $35.49
- Healthcare and Social Assistance (-$2.37) – $34.38 to $32.01
- Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (-$1.65) – $33.31 to $31.66
New Brunswick (NB)
Highest hourly wage increases
- Information and Cultural Industries (+$11.55) – $42.75 to $54.30
- Accommodation and Food Services (+$2.42) – $20.54 to $22.96
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (+$1.31) – $33.76 to $35.07
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Forestry, Logging and Support (-$8.36) – $41.23 to $32.87
- Transportation and Warehousing (-$0.83) – $35.62 to $34.79
- Healthcare and Social Assistance (-$0.73) – $39.76 to $39.03
Newfoundland and Labrador (NL)
Highest hourly wage increases
- Manufacturing (+$2.03) – $42.94 to $44.97
- Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (+$1.19) – $33.03 to $34.22
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (+$0.99) – $38.84 to $39.83
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Other Services – excluding Public Administration (-$3.89) – $39.12 to $35.23
- Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (-$3.26) – $54.65 to $51.39
- Information and Cultural Industries (-$1.68) – $39.04 to $37.36
Northwest Territories (NWT)
Highest hourly wage increases
- Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (+$10.05) – $57.08 to $67.13
- Healthcare and Social Assistance (+$7.08) – $51.45 to $58.53
- Construction (+$6.54) – $51.67 to $58.21
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (-$5.51) – $34.07 to $28.56
- Other Services – excluding Public Administration (-$4.41) – $52.42 to $48.01
- Accommodation and Food Services (-$0.99) – $26.58 to $25.89
Nova Scotia (NS)
Highest hourly wage increases
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$2.19) – $41.21 to $43.40
- Educational Services (+$0.57) – $34.86 to $35.43
- Manufacturing (+$0.22) – $40.18 to $40.40
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Other Services – excluding Public Administration (-$2.95) – $34.10 to $31.15
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (-$2.87) – $34.86 to $31.99
- Finance and Insurance (-$2.75) – $42.05 to $39.30
Nunavut (NU)
Note: Limitations on Nunavut data made it only possible to report the top two industries that experienced wage increases/decreases among salaried employees
Highest hourly wage increases
- Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (+$2.17) – $41.93 to $44.10
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (+$1.23) – $42.28 to $43.51
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Healthcare and Social Assistance (-$4.08) – $60.03 to $55.95
- Transportation and Warehousing (-$0.04) – $40.96 to $40.92
Ontario (ON)
Highest hourly wage increases
- Information and Cultural Industries (+$2.34) – $49.05 to $51.39
- Utilities (+$2.31) – $60.96 to $63.27
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$2.02) – $46.47 to $48.49
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Forestry, Logging and Support (-$2.93) – $41.13 to $38.20
- Finance and Insurance (-$2.19) – $45.27 to $43.08
- Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (-$2.06) – $35.47 to $33.41
Prince Edward Island (PEI)
Highest hourly wage increases
- Information and Cultural Industries (+$17.74) – $34.83 to $52.57
- Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (+$3.58) – $34.51 to $38.09
- Healthcare and Social Assistance (+$1.53) – $37.52 to $39.05
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Educational Services (-$3.13) – $36.01 to $32.88
- Finance and Insurance (-$2.10) – $38.95 to $36.85
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (-$1.28) – $29.24 to $27.96
Quebec (QC)
Highest hourly wage increases
- Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (+$3.58) – $35.82 to $39.40
- Utilities (+$3.49) – $65.61 to $69.10
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$3.15) – $44.16 to $47.31
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (-$3.79) – $56.21 to $52.42
- Forestry, Logging and Support (-$3.03) – $32.81 to $29.78
- Accommodation and Food Services (-$2.06) – $27.74 to $25.68
Saskatchewan (SK)
Highest hourly wage increases
- Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (+$3.42) – $31.69 to $35.11
- Transportation and Warehousing (+$1.71) – $38.49 to $40.20
- Manufacturing (+$1.60) – $44.12 to $45.72
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Finance and Insurance (-$4.72) – $43.48 to $38.76
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (-$4.16) – $40.02 to $35.86
- Other Services – excluding Public Administration (-$2.53) – $33.80 to $31.27
Yukon (YU)
Note: Limitations on Yukon data made it only possible to report the top two industries that experienced wage increases among salaried employees
Highest hourly wage increases
- Information and Cultural Industries (+$6.09) – $47.71 to $53.80
- Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (+$1.10) – $38.05 to $39.15
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Accommodation and Food Services (-$2.60) – $29.25 to $26.65
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (-$2.46) – $37.56 to $35.10
- Construction (-$1.35) – $46.84 to $45.49
Average hourly wages – hourly-paid employees, by province/territory
The following table outlines how average hourly wages have changed for hourly-paid employees in each province between December 2022 and February 2023.
Broken down by region, each section below will identify the three industries in each province/territory where employees paid by the hour have experienced the highest average hourly wage increases as well as the three industries where wages have most significantly decreased between January and February 2023.
Alberta (AB)
Highest hourly wage increases
- Forestry, Logging and Support (+$3.16) – $40.77 to $43.93
- Information and Cultural Industries (+$1.95) – $59.98 to $61.93
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$1.61) – $45.74 to $47.35
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Transportation and Warehousing (-$1.53) – $37.08 to $35.55
- Healthcare and Social Assistance (-$7.08) – $51.45 to $58.53
- Finance and Insurance (-$3.72) – $23.85 to $27.57
British Columbia (BC)
Highest hourly wage increases
- Utilities (+$5.22) – $44.68 to $49.90
- Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (+$1.92) – $46.90 to $48.82
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$1.90) – $36.91 to $38.81
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Finance and Insurance (-$0.69) – $34.96 to $34.27
- Educational Services (-$0.65) – $23.83 to $23.18
- Other Services – excluding Public Administration (-$0.19) – $27.78 to $27.59
Manitoba (MB)
Highest hourly wage increases
- Manufacturing (+$0.87) – $29.21 to $30.08
- Construction (+$0.78) – $33.35 to $34.13
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$0.60) – $33.25 to $33.85
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Information and Cultural Industries (-$7.57) – $40.93 to $33.36
- Transportation and Warehousing (-$0.86) – $30.73 to $29.87
- Educational Services (-$0.49) – $22.11 to $21.62
New Brunswick (NB)
Highest hourly wage increases
- Transportation and Warehousing (+$1.36) – $27.11 to $28.47
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (+$1.31) – $22.43 to $23.74
- Other Services – excluding Public Administration (+$0.30) – $24.08 to $24.38
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Information and Cultural Industries (-$15.79) – $47.57 to $31.78
- Manufacturing (-$0.38) – $27.21 to $26.83
- Accommodation and Food Services (-$0.32) – $16.72 to $16.40
Newfoundland and Labrador (NL)
Highest hourly wage increases
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$2.78) – $38.12 to $40.90
- Construction (+$1.73) – $35.52 to $37.25
- Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (+$1.25) – $44.77 to $46.02
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Information and Cultural Industries (-$13.20) – $37.26 to $24.06
- Manufacturing (-$1.50) – $30.76 to $29.26
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (-$0.93) – $25.13 to $24.20
Northwest Territories (NWT)
Note: Limitations on NWT data made it only possible to report the top two industries that experienced wage decreases among employees paid by the hour
Highest hourly wage increases
- Construction (+$1.64) – $40.32 to $41.96
- Healthcare and Social Assistance (+$1.61) – $38.31 to $39.92
- Accommodation and Food Services (+$1.13) – $19.91 to $21.04
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Educational Services (-$0.22) – $22.09 to $21.87
- Transportation and Warehousing (-$0.18) – $35.10 to $34.92
Nova Scotia (NS)
Highest hourly wage increases
- Finance and Insurance (+$10.27) – $11.70 to $21.97
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$1.35) – $30.73 to $32.08
- Transportation and Warehousing (+$1.06) – $28.70 to $29.76
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (-$1.18) – $22.37 to $21.19
- Educational Services (-$0.39) – $22.22 to $21.83
- Healthcare and Social Assistance (-$0.16) – $30.02 to $29.86
Nunavut (NU)
Note: Limitations on Nunavut data made it only possible to report the top industry that experienced wage decreases among employees paid by the hour
Highest hourly wage increases
- Transportation and Warehousing (+$1.04) – $30.69 to $31.73
- Construction (+$0.94) – $38.92 to $39.86
- Accommodation and Food Services (+$0.58) – $23.72 to $24.30
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (-$0.71) – $28.91 to $28.20
Ontario (ON)
Highest hourly wage increases
- Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (+$4.63) – $41.92 to $46.55
- Information and Cultural Industries (+$3.82) – $34.45 to $38.27
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$2.03) – $34.46 to $36.49
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Manufacturing (-$1.04) – $31.27 to $30.23
- Transportation and Warehousing (-$0.52) – $29.39 to $28.87
- Forestry, Logging and Support (-$0.46) – $32.09 to $31.63
Prince Edward Island (PEI)
Highest hourly wage increases
- Information and Cultural Industries (+$3.08) – $30.46 to $33.54
- Construction (+$0.61) – $27.78 to $28.39
- Healthcare and Social Assistance (+$0.33) – $30.08 to $30.41
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Educational Services (-$1.56) – $23.43 to $21.87
- Other Services – excluding Public Administration (-$0.18) – $24.21 to $24.03
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (-$0.17) – $19.96 to $19.79
Quebec (QC)
Highest hourly wage increases
- Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (+$12.38) – $40.27 to $52.65
- Other Services – excluding Public Administration (+$1.05) – $26.01 to $27.06
- Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (+$0.90) – $24.09 to $24.99
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Information and Cultural Industries (-$6.05) – $39.92 to $33.87
- Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (-$0.88) – $24.93 to $24.05
- Manufacturing (-$0.81) – $31.35 to $30.54
Saskatchewan (SK)
Highest hourly wage increases
- Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (+$3.79) – $20.94 to $24.73
- Finance and Insurance (+$3.72) – $23.85 to $27.57
- Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (+$1.83) – $44.12 to $45.95
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Information and Cultural Industries (-$4.28) – $33.66 to $29.38
- Transportation and Warehousing (-$1.94) – $33.26 to $31.32
- Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (-$1.12) – $30.06 to $28.94
Yukon (YU)
Note: Limitations on Yukon data made it only possible to report the top two industries that experienced wage decreases among employees paid by the hour
Highest hourly wage increases
- Information and Cultural Industries (+$4.89) – $32.31 to $37.20
- Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (+$1.97) – $24.77 to $26.74
- Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (+$1.39) – $23.54 to $24.93
Most significant hourly wage decreases
- Transportation and Warehousing (-$0.33) – $35.93 to $35.60
- Construction (-$0.30) – $37.46 to $37.16
