Calgary

Alberta leads country in average wages and wage growth

The average weekly paycheque in Alberta is up 4.3 per cent between February of last year and this year, the second highest jump in the country.

Weekly earnings are up 4.3% between February 2017 and February 2018

A closeup of a cash register drawer shows rows of bills and coins.
Albertans earn more, on average, than other Canadians and are just slightly behind Quebec in wage increases. (Robert Short/CBC)

The average weekly paycheque in Alberta is up 4.3 per cent between February of last year and this year, the second highest jump in the country.  

Alberta's overall increase, bested only by Quebec with a 4.4 per cent rise, means the average Albertan is earning $1,158 each week.

Those earnings are more than any other province.

"Earnings in the province have been on an upward trend since March 2017," reads an update from Statistics Canada. 

"Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction contributed the most to the year-over-year growth, rising 10.7 per cent."

Those in that sector earned an average weekly income of $2,248.

The update, however, notes the sector hasn't reached the highs of August 2014, prior to the collapse of global oil prices. 

Alberta also led the country in the growth of public administration wages, which rose 3.6 per cent year-over-year to $1,290. 

The national average was an increase of 3.4 per cent, with weekly earnings of $997.

The figures do not include farm workers.