Your first job in Canada: age rules, paperwork, pay and your first budget
Quick summary
A first job needs three things: to be old enough for the work, a Social Insurance Number (SIN), and a TD1 tax form for your employer. After that, check your pay stub and make a plan for what you earn. Age rules differ by province. Try the first job savings goal planner to see your take-home pay and how long a goal will take.
Checked November 11, 2026. Main source: Manitoba Employment Standards: Young workers fact sheet (published July 28, 2026, read November 11, 2026). See all 8 sources.
Key facts
- SIN age
- Anyone 12 or older can apply. A parent or guardian applies for a minor
- Source: Service Canada, July 15, 2026
- SIN cost
- Free
- Source: Service Canada
- CPP
- Not taken under 18
- Source: CRA
- Minimum wage
- Set by each province, from $15.00 (Alberta) to $20.17 (Nunavut) for general rates
- Source: Federal Minimum Wage Database
How old do you have to be?
Each province sets its own rules, and they depend on your age and the kind of work. This table shows what we confirmed on each government page. It is not every rule, so read the page for your province before you start.
| Province | What the page says |
|---|---|
| Manitoba | Under 13 cannot be employed. At 13 to 15 you must complete the Young Worker Readiness Certificate Course, signed by a parent or guardian, before starting. At 13 to 15, up to 20 hours a week in school weeks, no work from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., and an adult must supervise you directly. Minimum wage, holidays and vacation rules apply at any age. |
| Ontario | Age 14 for offices, stores, arenas and restaurant serving areas. Age 15 for factories, restaurant kitchens and warehouses. Age 16 for construction, mining plants and logging. Employers cannot employ children under 16 during school hours. |
| Alberta | At 13 to 14, a list of work is allowed without a permit (for example retail or office clerk, delivering flyers, tutoring, some restaurant jobs). Up to 2 hours on school days outside school hours and 8 hours on non-school days. No work 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. A parent must consent. At 15 to 17, any type of work, with restricted night hours. |
| British Columbia | Under 16, a child employment permit is needed unless an exemption applies, such as light work at ages 14 to 15. Under 15, up to 4 hours on school days, 7 on non-school days, and 20 hours in a school week. No hazardous work under 18. |
We did not confirm the rules for Saskatchewan, Quebec, the Atlantic provinces or the territories. Look up your province's employment standards page, and ask your school counsellor too.
The paperwork
SIN. Service Canada says you need a Social Insurance Number to work in Canada. Anyone 12 or older can apply, a parent or guardian applies for a minor, it is free, and you can apply online, by mail or in person.
TD1. The CRA says you fill out the TD1 when you start with a new employer. It tells the employer how much tax to take off. If it is not filed, only the basic personal amount is used when the employer figures your tax. The CRA also lists a late penalty for the individual.
- Bring your SIN to your employer. Keep it private otherwise.
- Ask your parent or guardian to read the TD1 with you the first time.
- Write down your start date, hourly pay and usual hours.
Reading your pay
Gross pay is your hours times your rate. Take-home pay is what is left after income tax and EI come off, and CPP too from age 18. The CRA says employees under 18 do not contribute to CPP, and that there is no minimum age for EI.
Check your first stub: hours, rate and deductions. The minimum wage in your province is the lowest general rate your employer can pay. See the full table on our minimum wage page.
Your first budget: a goal and a plan
Pick one thing to buy, set a date, and split each paycheque into a part you save and a part you spend. The planner does the math with your province's minimum wage and your hours.
A common split is half and half, but you choose the share. Saving a set share of every paycheque is a habit that helps you reach goals. That is our suggestion, not a government rule.
Steps from job offer to first paycheque
- Check the age rules for your province and the type of work.
- If you are under 16 in Manitoba, finish the readiness course first.
- Apply for your SIN with a parent or guardian.
- Fill out your TD1 on day one.
- Set up a bank account for direct deposit, if your employer pays that way.
- Check your first pay stub against your hours and rate.
- Set a goal in the planner and save a share of each paycheque.
Check what you learned
4 quick questions. Nothing is saved or sent.
1. What does Service Canada say about the youngest age to apply for a SIN?
2. Under 18, do employees pay CPP, according to the CRA?
3. If a TD1 is not filed, what does the CRA say the employer uses?
4. In Manitoba, what must a 13 to 15 year old do before starting work?
Questions people ask
Can I work at 14 in Canada?
It depends on your province and the job. Ontario lists age 14 for offices, stores, arenas and restaurant serving areas. Alberta allows a list of jobs for 13 and 14 year olds with parent consent. In British Columbia a permit may be needed. Check your own province's page.
Do I need a SIN for my first job?
Yes. Service Canada says you need a SIN to work in Canada. Anyone 12 or older can apply, and it is free.
Do I pay tax on my first job?
Employers take off tax and EI from your pay. Everyone has a basic personal amount that is not taxed, so on a small income the tax may be little, and you may get some back when you file. Filing a return is worth looking into even for a small income.
Do teens pay CPP?
The CRA says employees under 18 do not contribute to CPP.
Is there a different minimum wage for students?
Some places have one. The federal database has a page for young workers. Check it for your province.
How do I avoid job scams?
Be careful with any offer you did not look for. See our fraud and scam protection page for the signs.