YCW Wage Guide
This resource assembles wage information to help YCW employers set wages that are in line with industry standards in the region where they are providing employment.
How much should a YCW employer pay?
Comparing average YCW wages across Canada
Hourly minimum wage for the Territories and federal minimum wage
Living Wages and YCW wages in urban centres
Average wages for different job types and per YCW program
Average wages per job field for the YCW-HO program
Average wages per job field for the YCW-BCH program
How much should a YCW employer pay?
The answer to this question is, it depends. Every employer should consider a variety of factors in determining the wage for their YCW employee, including for example the average YCW wage in their province/territory, the type of job, which YCW program is involved and the competitive nature of the program. It is also important to consider inflation when determining a YCW wage — according to the Bank of Canada, $15/hr twenty-years ago is equivalent to $23.13/hr today.
Provincial minimum wages seldom meet the standard expected of a Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage internship. As important skills-building jobs that help young people develop practical knowledge in the heritage field, student positions in the Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations should also exceed provincial minimum wages.
What does make for an appropriate wage will vary considerably across the country. For your reference, we have thus provided a chart of current provincial minimum wages compared to average YCW-BCH wages funded by the CMA for the past two program years. We have also provided the average YCW wage in both program streams for the past two years for a sample list of urban centres, and a brief discussion of living wages.
Comparing average YCW wages across Canada
In general, average wages in the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) sector across Canada tend to exceed the provincial minimum wage for even entry positions.1 Wages in both streams of the YCW program strive to be competitive and rewarding in this environment. To illustrate how wages in the sector compare province-by-province, the table below includes average wages for both YCW-HO and YCW-BCH, as well as the legal minimum wage for each province (including scheduled increases).
| Province | Hourly Minimum Wage* | Upcoming minimum wage increases* | Average wage in YCW-HO, 2022-20232 | Average wage in YCW-BCH, 2022-20232 |
| British Columbia | $16.75 | $17.40 (June 1, 2024) | $17.46 | $20.28 |
| Alberta | $15.00 | - | $17.18 | $19.23 |
| Saskatchewan | $14.00 | $15.00 (October 1, 2024) | $15.80 | $20.19 |
| Manitoba | $15.30 | - | $14.38 | $16.89 |
| Ontario | $16.55 | - | $16.33 | $18.72 |
| Quebec | $15.25 | $15.75 (May 1, 2024) | $16.07 | $19.36 |
| New Brunswick | $14.75 | $15.30 (April 1, 2024) | $13.98 | $17.05 |
| Nova Scotia | $15.00 | $15.20 (April 1, 2024) | $14.69 | $18.12 |
| Prince Edward Island | $15.00 | $15.40 (April 1, 2024) $16.00 (October 1, 2024) |
$14.28 | Unavailable |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $15.00 | $15.60 (April 1, 2024) | $14.81 | $20.21 |
Hourly minimum wage for the Territories and federal minimum wage
| Hourly minimum wage * | Upcoming minimum wage increases * | |
| Yukon | $16.77 | $17.59 (April 1, 2024) |
| Northwest Territories | $16.05 | - |
| Nunavut | $19.00 | - |
| Federal minimum wage** | $16.65 | $17.30 (April 1, 2024) |
* Source: Government of Canada Minimum Wage Database: http://srv116.services.gc.ca/dimt-wid/sm-mw/rpt1.aspx?GoCTemplateCulture=en-CA and the Retail Council of Canada: https://www.retailcouncil.org/resources/quick-facts/minimum-wage-by-province/ (accessed March 2024). Note that in many cases scheduled minimum wage increases are tied to the Consumer Price Index, and that the specific increases have not always yet been announced. These have not been included.
**The federal minimum wage only applies to those working in federally regulated industries.
Living Wages and YCW wages in urban centres
With the rising cost of living and steep increases in rents and housing widely-reported in many parts of Canada in recent years, a number of YCW employers have asked Program Officers at the CMA about the idea of a living wage. Distinct from the minimum wage, which is the provincially regulated lowest legal wage an employer can pay, the term “living wage” is used to illustrate the minimum income required for workers in a given community to be able to afford basics like shelter, food, transportation, and other necessities.
| Sample Urban Centre | Average YCW-HO wage in 2022-20232 | Average YCW-BCH wage in 2022-20232 | Living Wage numbers for 2023* |
| Toronto | $17.68 | $18.27 | $25.05 |
| Montreal | $16.77 | $19.42 | Not available |
| Vancouver | $18.07 | $20.79 | $25.68 |
| Calgary | $17.69 | $18.81 | $23.70 |
| Edmonton | $18.27 | $19.19 | $22.25 |
| Ottawa/Gatineau | $16.25 | $19.52 | $21.95 |
| Winnipeg | $14.90 | $16.33 | $19.21 |
| Quebec City | $17.34 | $19.09 | Not available |
| Halifax | $16.60 | $17.65 | $26.50 |
| Saskatoon | $16.23 | $18.83 | $18.95 |
* Source: Living Wage Canada: https://www.livingwage.ca/rates (accessed: March 2024). Please note that at time of access, Living Wage Canada had not compiled rates for Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, or the Territories
Average wages for different job types and per YCW program
Below, employers and participants will find average wages for different types of jobs funded through the YCW. This information can also help an employer see the various business lines that can be supported through YCW.
Average wages per job field for the YCW-HO program2
| Job category | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 |
| Administration | $14.82 | $15.97 |
| Arts practice or arts administration | $16.42 | $16.86 |
| Communications | $16.05 | $16.30 |
| Community Development | $16.02 | $15.89 |
| Customer Service | $14.75 | $15.36 |
| Education and teaching | $15.77 | $16.43 |
| Hospitality and tourism | $14.70 | $15.39 |
| Management or project management | $15.08 | $15.81 |
| Science, engineering and technology | $15.91 | $16.28 |
| Other | $15.64 | $16.28 |
Average wages per job field for the YCW-BCH program2
| Job category | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 |
| Administration | $18.25 | $18.94 |
| Arts practice or arts administration | $18.34 | $19.07 |
| Communications | $18.99 | $18.61 |
| Community Development | $18.30 | $18.00 |
| Education and teaching | $18.67 | $18.98 |
| Hospitality and tourism | $17.50 | $18.39 |
| Management or project management | $18.52 | $19.46 |
| Science, engineering and technology | $18.27 | $22.29 |
| Other | $18.08 | $19.36 |
Notes
1. For additional information about GLAMs and their contribution to Canadian life, see "Value Study of Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums (GLAMS) in Canada" by Oxford Economics, https://www.oxfordeconomics.com/recent-releases/value-study-of-galleries-libraries-archives-and-museums-glams-in-canada
2. This data is only for YCW positions that were funded through the Canadian Museums Association.
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This program is made possible by the Government of Canada.
