Working as an International Student in Quebec (2026)
Short answer
In Quebec, 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 $16.60 an hour (since May 1, 2026), so a 24-hour week pays $398 before deductions. Kept up every week of the year, that is about $18,885 after 2026 income tax, QPP, EI and QPIP.
- Minimum wage
- $16.60/hr
- Rank 8 of 13
- 24 h week, gross
- $398
- Before deductions
- 24 h every week, net
- $18,885
- per year after 2026 tax
- School-year estimate
- $20,672
- 1,408 h, after tax
Who this is for: International students studying in Quebec — Montréal, Québec City, Laval 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 Quebec
IRCC sets these, not Quebec: 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 Quebec
Quebec has no separate student minimum wage, so a student job pays at least the general $16.60 an hour. Tipped employees (servers) earn $13.30/hr since May 1, 2026. Quebec ranks 8th of 13 for its general minimum wage; full details are on the Quebec minimum wage page. Next change: Adjusted every May 1.
Nearby: Ontario $17.95, New Brunswick $15.90, Newfoundland and Labrador $16.35.
Take-home pay on a part-time student schedule
Each row assumes you work the same hours every week of the year at Quebec's $16.60 minimum wage, taxed as a 2026 resident of Quebec with basic credits only (estimate).
| Hours / week | Weekly gross | Yearly gross | Yearly after tax | Weekly after tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $166 | $8,632 | $8,154 | $157 |
| 15 | $249 | $12,948 | $12,120 | $233 |
| 20 | $332 | $17,264 | $16,087 | $309 |
| 24 | $398 | $20,717 | $18,885 | $363 |
School-year scenario: 32 weeks of classes at 24 hours plus 16 weeks of scheduled breaks at 40 hours is 1,408 hours — about $23,373 before tax and $20,672 after QPP, EI, QPIP and income tax. Use the Quebec salary after tax calculator for other amounts.
Quebec's provincial basic personal amount is $18,952 (lowest bracket 14%) and the federal one is $16,452, so the first dollars you earn carry little or no income tax. On $20,717 a year (24 hours every week) the estimate is $153 federal tax, $223 Quebec tax and $1,456 in QPP, EI and QPIP. 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 Quebec
- Cashier: median $17.00/hr (low $15.75, high $21.00)
Job Bank wage data for Quebec, refreshed April 2026.
Where to find work in Quebec
Main cities for student jobs: Montréal, Québec City, Laval, Gatineau, Sherbrooke. Start with your campus career centre and on-campus job board, then:
- Job Bank (Government of Canada) (opens in a new tab)
- Québec emploi (opens in a new tab) — the Government of Quebec's free job board, with student and internship filters
Payroll in Quebec deducts QPP and QPIP instead of CPP, which is why the take-home figures on this page differ from other provinces. Many customer-facing jobs expect working French.
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 Quebec
Quebec's provincial rules on pay, overtime and breaks cover you like any other worker. Unpaid or below-minimum wages? Contact CNESST (Quebec labour standards) (opens in a new tab).
Staying in Quebec after graduation
Quebec: PEQ Diplômés du Québec (temporary reopening)
Quebec selects its own immigrants rather than using a nominee program. It has temporarily reopened the Programme de l'expérience québécoise (PEQ) — Diplômés du Québec stream for July 2, 2026 to July 2, 2028. For the first intake (July 2 to October 31, 2026) you need an eligible Quebec diploma obtained by November 19, 2025, French at level 7 oral and level 5 written, and to be in Quebec when you apply.
Source: Québec.ca: PEQ — Diplômés du Québec selection conditions (French) — checked October 2026.
Federally, most graduates start with a post-graduation work permit and work toward the Canadian Experience Class (which is for people planning to live outside Quebec).