Average weekly pay rises to $1,354 in Canada, $1,293 in Quebec

The average weekly wage in Canada increased to $1,354.55 in August 2026, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada. The figure represents a 0.5 percent increase from July and a 3.7 percent rise compared to August 2025. The federal agency noted that the change reflects not only wage increases but also shifts in employment composition, hours worked and the effect of trends from a year earlier. In Quebec, the average weekly pay reached $1,293.22 for the month.

That Quebec figure is a one percent increase from July and a 1.7 percent increase from August 2025. Over a full year, the average weekly pay in Quebec translates to an annual income of approximately $67,247. The national average weekly pay equates to about $70,437 annually, a difference of roughly $3,189 compared to the province. Statistics Canada's monthly report on employment, earnings and hours of work, released on Thursday, October 29, provided the data. The report also detailed average weekly earnings across provinces and territories. Nunavut maintained the highest average weekly pay in the country at $1,889.22, which works out to about $98,239 per year.

At the other end of the spectrum, Prince Edward Island had the lowest average weekly pay at $1,178.58, equivalent to roughly $61,286 annually. The data allows Canadians to compare their own pay to the provincial and national averages. The agency's report is titled "Emploi, rémunération et heures de travail, et postes vacants." Statistics Canada stated that the progression in average weekly pay "ne reflète pas uniquement les hausses de salaire." The report explains it "peut aussi dépendre de la composition de l'emploi, du nombre d'heures travaillées et de l'effet de l'année de base, soit la tendance observée un an plus tôt." The report provides a complete ranking of provinces and territories based on average weekly remuneration for August 2026. The figures come as many households grapple with the rising cost of living, including grocery bills, rent and fuel.

With files from Narcity