Rules checked October 2026Minimum wage verified October 9, 2026

Working as an International Student in British Columbia (2026)

Short answer

In British Columbia, international students follow the federal rules: up to 24 hours a week off campus while classes are in session and unlimited hours on campus or during scheduled breaks. The province's general minimum wage is $18.25 an hour (since June 1, 2026), so a 24-hour week pays $438 before deductions. Kept up every week of the year, that is about $20,374 after 2026 income tax, CPP and EI.

Minimum wage: $18.25/hr; Rank 3 of 13
24 h week, gross: $438; Before deductions
24 h every week, net: $20,374; per year after 2026 tax
School-year estimate: $22,558; 1,408 h, after tax

Who this is for: International students studying in British Columbia — Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby and beyond — who want to know what a part-time job really pays, where to look, and which provincial rules and graduate pathways apply.

Work-hour rules in British Columbia

IRCC sets these, not British Columbia: see the international students hub for conditions, SIN and scams.

Sources: IRCC: Work off campus as an international student; IRCC: Work on campus as an international student — checked October 2026.

Minimum wage and student pay in British Columbia

British Columbia has no separate student minimum wage, so a student job pays at least the general $18.25 an hour. Liquor servers earn the general minimum since 2021. British Columbia ranks 3rd of 13 for its general minimum wage; full details are on the British Columbia minimum wage page. Next change: Indexed to inflation, adjusted every June 1.

Nearby: Alberta $15.00, Yukon $18.51, Northwest Territories $17.20.

Take-home pay on a part-time student schedule

Each row assumes you work the same hours every week of the year at British Columbia's $18.25 minimum wage, taxed as a 2026 resident of British Columbia with basic credits only (estimate).

Weekly and annual pay at British Columbia minimum wage by hours worked, before and after 2026 tax
Hours / week	Weekly gross	Yearly gross	Yearly after tax	Weekly after tax
10	$183	$9,490	$8,979	$173
15	$274	$14,235	$13,342	$257
20	$365	$18,980	$17,506	$337
24	$438	$22,776	$20,374	$392

School-year scenario: 32 weeks of classes at 24 hours plus 16 weeks of scheduled breaks at 40 hours is 1,408 hours — about $25,696 before tax and $22,558 after CPP, EI and income tax. Use the British Columbia salary after tax calculator for other amounts.

British Columbia's provincial basic personal amount is $12,932 (lowest bracket 5.06%) and the federal one is $16,452, so the first dollars you earn carry little or no income tax. On $22,776 a year (24 hours every week) the estimate is $463 federal tax, $421 British Columbia tax and $1,518 in CPP and EI. Tuition amounts and your residency status for tax can change the result.

Source: CRA: Taxes for international students studying in Canada — checked October 2026.

What common student jobs pay in British Columbia

Cashier: median $19.00/hr (low $17.40, high $24.00)
Hotel front desk clerk: median $20.00/hr (low $17.40, high $26.00)

Job Bank wage data for British Columbia, refreshed April 2026.

Where to find work in British Columbia

Main cities for student jobs: Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Victoria, Kelowna. Start with your campus career centre and on-campus job board, then:

Job Bank (Government of Canada) (opens in a new tab)
WorkBC Job Board (opens in a new tab) — B.C.'s provincial job board

FOODSAFE Level 1 is B.C.'s food-safety training course; listing it on your resume helps for café, deli and kitchen roles.

Not sure which job to aim for? See the best part-time jobs for international students, each with a resume and interview example.

Your rights at work in British Columbia

British Columbia's provincial rules on pay, overtime and breaks cover you like any other worker. Unpaid or below-minimum wages? Contact B.C. employment standards (opens in a new tab).

Staying in British Columbia after graduation

BC PNP and international graduates

The BC PNP's International Graduate and International Post-Graduate streams are closed, and in April 2026 the BC PNP said it won't launch new student streams. Completing your studies in B.C. or Canada still earns additional registration points in its other Skills Immigration streams.

Source: WelcomeBC: BC PNP news — checked October 2026.

Federally, most graduates start with a post-graduation work permit and work toward the Canadian Experience Class.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours can international students work in British Columbia?

IRCC, not British Columbia, sets the limits: 24 hours a week off campus during classes, unlimited in scheduled breaks and on campus, if your permit allows work (checked October 2026).

What is the minimum wage for students in British Columbia?

British Columbia has no separate student minimum wage, so a student job pays at least the general $18.25 an hour. Liquor servers earn the general minimum since 2021. Rates as last verified October 9, 2026.

How much does a student earn working 24 hours a week in British Columbia?

At the $18.25 minimum wage, 24 hours is $438 a week before deductions. Worked every week of the year that is $22,776 gross and about $20,374 after 2026 tax, CPP and EI — roughly $392 a week.

What could I earn over a school year in British Columbia?

With 32 weeks of classes at 24 hours and 16 weeks of scheduled breaks at 40 hours (1,408 hours at minimum wage), you would earn about $25,696 before tax and $22,558 after — an estimate, not a guarantee of hours.

Where can international students find jobs in British Columbia?

Start with your campus career centre, then Job Bank (Government of Canada) and WorkBC Job Board. The main job markets are Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby and Victoria, Kelowna.

Is there a provincial immigration pathway for international graduates in British Columbia?

The BC PNP's International Graduate and International Post-Graduate streams are closed, and in April 2026 the BC PNP said it won't launch new student streams. Completing your studies in B.C. or Canada still earns additional registration points in its other Skills Immigration streams. Streams change often — confirm on the official provincial site.