Working as an International Student in Northwest Territories (2026)
Short answer
In Northwest Territories, 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 territory's general minimum wage is $17.20 an hour (since September 1, 2026), so a 24-hour week pays $413 before deductions. Kept up every week of the year, that is about $19,624 after 2026 income tax, CPP and EI.
- Minimum wage
- $17.20/hr
- Rank 6 of 13
- 24 h week, gross
- $413
- Before deductions
- 24 h every week, net
- $19,624
- per year after 2026 tax
- School-year estimate
- $21,661
- 1,408 h, after tax
Who this is for: International students studying in Northwest Territories — Yellowknife, Hay River, Inuvik and beyond — who want to know what a part-time job really pays, where to look, and which territorial rules and graduate pathways apply.
Work-hour rules in Northwest Territories
IRCC sets these, not Northwest Territories: 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 Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories has no separate student minimum wage, so a student job pays at least the general $17.20 an hour. Northwest Territories ranks 6th of 13 for its general minimum wage; full details are on the Northwest Territories minimum wage page.
Nearby: Yukon $18.51, Nunavut $20.17, Alberta $15.00.
Take-home pay on a part-time student schedule
Each row assumes you work the same hours every week of the year at Northwest Territories's $17.20 minimum wage, taxed as a 2026 resident of Northwest Territories with basic credits only (estimate).
| Hours / week | Weekly gross | Yearly gross | Yearly after tax | Weekly after tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $172 | $8,944 | $8,474 | $163 |
| 15 | $258 | $13,416 | $12,607 | $242 |
| 20 | $344 | $17,888 | $16,740 | $322 |
| 24 | $413 | $21,466 | $19,624 | $377 |
School-year scenario: 32 weeks of classes at 24 hours plus 16 weeks of scheduled breaks at 40 hours is 1,408 hours — about $24,218 before tax and $21,661 after CPP, EI and income tax. Use the Northwest Territories salary after tax calculator for other amounts.
Northwest Territories's territorial basic personal amount is $17,842 (lowest bracket 5.9%) and the federal one is $16,452, so the first dollars you earn carry little or no income tax. On $21,466 a year (24 hours every week) the estimate is $293 federal tax, $130 Northwest Territories tax and $1,419 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.
Where to find work in Northwest Territories
Main cities for student jobs: Yellowknife, Hay River, Inuvik, Fort Smith. Start with your campus career centre and on-campus job board, then:
Living in Yellowknife or elsewhere in the North? If you live in a prescribed northern zone for at least six consecutive months, the CRA's northern residents deductions (line 25500) (opens in a new tab) can lower your income tax — the CRA's own example uses Yellowknife. Our take-home figures don't include it.
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 Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories's territorial rules on pay, overtime and breaks cover you like any other worker. Unpaid or below-minimum wages? Contact NWT Employment Standards Office (opens in a new tab).
Staying in Northwest Territories after graduation
We couldn't confirm a current graduate-specific stream on official territorial sources in October 2026, so we don't list one here.
Federally, most graduates start with a post-graduation work permit and work toward the Canadian Experience Class.