Quick Answer
The median full-time wage in British Columbia is $35.00 an hour, about $72,800 a year, which leaves roughly $56,130 after tax in 2026. On an $80,000 salary, British Columbia ranks #2 of 13 provinces and territories for take-home pay, keeping $61,038.
The typical British Columbia paycheque
Across all industries, the median full-time wage in British Columbia is $35.00 an hour — about $72,800 a year. After federal tax, British Columbia tax, CPP/CPP2 and EI, a single employee on that salary keeps roughly $56,130 a year, or $4,677 a month. That is 77.1% of gross pay.
Take-home pay in British Columbia at every salary level
Nobody is paid an "average". Here is what specific salaries actually leave in British Columbia for the 2026 tax year — federal tax, provincial tax, CPP/CPP2 and EI, for a single employee with no extra credits.
| Gross salary | Take-home (year) | Per month | Kept |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $33,062 | $2,755 | 82.7% |
| $60,000 | $47,673 | $3,973 | 79.5% |
| $80,000 | $61,038 | $5,086 | 76.3% |
| $100,000 | $75,236 | $6,270 | 75.2% |
| $150,000 | $107,098 | $8,925 | 71.4% |
Notice how the share you keep falls as the salary rises: that is Canada's progressive tax system working as designed. At $40,000 you keep 82.7%; at $150,000 you keep 71.4%.
What each industry pays in British Columbia
Statistics Canada publishes the median wage of full-time employees by industry. Here is every sector it reports for British Columbia, with what each one leaves after British Columbia tax, federal tax, CPP and EI in 2026.
| Industry | Median wage | ≈ Annual | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utilities | $51.63/hr | $107,400 | $80,362 |
| Forestry, fishing, mining, oil & gas | $45.00/hr | $93,600 | $70,641 |
| Public administration | $45.00/hr | $93,600 | $70,641 |
| Professional, scientific & technical services | $43.78/hr | $91,100 | $68,846 |
| Educational services | $40.00/hr | $83,200 | $63,232 |
| Information, culture & recreation | $38.46/hr | $80,000 | $61,038 |
| Finance, insurance & real estate | $38.00/hr | $79,000 | $60,352 |
| Construction | $37.50/hr | $78,000 | $59,666 |
| Manufacturing | $35.00/hr | $72,800 | $56,130 |
| Transportation & warehousing | $34.00/hr | $70,700 | $54,723 |
| Healthcare & social assistance | $33.33/hr | $69,300 | $53,785 |
| Other services | $30.00/hr | $62,400 | $49,249 |
| Business & support services | $27.50/hr | $57,200 | $45,748 |
| Wholesale & retail trade | $26.44/hr | $55,000 | $44,161 |
| Agriculture | $25.00/hr | $52,000 | $41,996 |
| Food service & hospitality | $22.00/hr | $45,800 | $37,401 |
The best-paid sector reported here is utilities at $51.63 an hour; the lowest is food service & hospitality at $22.00. That gap — $29.63 an hour — works out to about $61,600 a year before tax.
How British Columbia compares with the rest of Canada
On an $80,000 salary, British Columbia ranks #2 of 13 provinces and territories for take-home pay in 2026.
| Rank | Province | Take-home on $80,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nunavut | $62,001 |
| 2 | British Columbia ← | $61,038 |
| 3 | Northwest Territories | $60,871 |
| 4 | Ontario | $60,744 |
| 5 | Yukon | $60,648 |
| 6 | Alberta | $60,409 |
The difference between British Columbia and Nunavut, the highest, is $963 a year on the same $80,000 salary — about $80 a month.
Take-home pay is only one side of a move, of course: rent, groceries and childcare vary as much as tax does. But it is the side most people guess at, and it is the side that can be calculated exactly.
Where people work in British Columbia
Most British Columbia employees are in Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Victoria and Kelowna. Wherever you are in the province, the provincial tax rules are the same — there is no city income tax anywhere in Canada, so your postal code changes your rent, not your deductions.
Run your own numbers
Every figure above is a median or a computed example. Your own pay depends on your exact salary or hourly rate, overtime, shift premiums, RRSP contributions and benefits. The take-home pay calculator handles all of it for British Columbia and every other province, for the 2026 tax year, with no signup.
Wage figures: Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0064-01, median hourly wage of full-time employees, 2025, annualised at 2,080 hours. Take-home figures: CanPay Insights 2026 tax engine (federal and provincial income tax, CPP/CPP2, EI) for a single employee with no additional credits.
Calculate Your Take-Home Pay
Enter your salary and province to see detailed tax breakdowns instantly.
Use Free CalculatorFrequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary in British Columbia?⌄
What is the take-home pay on $80,000 in British Columbia?⌄
Does British Columbia have high taxes compared with other provinces?⌄
Which industry pays best in British Columbia?⌄
How much of my pay do I keep in British Columbia?⌄
Share this article
Help others learn about Canadian taxes
Disclaimer: This content is based on publicly available information and general tax knowledge for reference only. Individual tax situations may vary. Please consult a qualified tax professional or accountant for personalized advice.