BC nurse wage grid
Hourly base rates under the Nurses' Bargaining Association Provincial Collective Agreement, in effect since April 1, 2024. A Level 3 RN or RPN earns $41.42 an hour in the first year and $55.91 at the top step.
The current agreement ran from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2025 and stays in force until a new one is reached (Article 61(A)), so its last published rates are the ones being paid today. When the next agreement sets new rates, this page updates.
| Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1LPN | $32.84 | $33.78 | $34.50 | $35.48 | $36.46 | $37.44 | $38.42 | $39.40 | $40.38 | $41.35 |
| Level 2LPN | $34.20 | $35.18 | $35.94 | $36.92 | $37.90 | $38.88 | $39.86 | $40.84 | $41.82 | $42.79 |
| Level 3RN / RPN | $41.42 | $43.00 | $44.58 | $46.20 | $47.82 | $49.44 | $51.06 | $52.68 | $54.29 | $55.91 |
| Level 4RN / RPN | $49.20 | $50.75 | $52.30 | $53.89 | $55.48 | $57.08 | $58.68 | $60.28 | $61.87 | $63.47 |
| Level 5RN / RPN | $52.39 | $53.93 | $55.48 | $57.07 | $58.67 | $60.26 | $61.86 | $63.46 | $65.05 | $66.65 |
| Level 6RN / RPN | $54.51 | $56.06 | $57.60 | $59.19 | $60.79 | $62.39 | $63.98 | $65.58 | $67.18 | $68.78 |
Source: HEABC wage schedules effective April 1, 2024. Base rates only: premiums are paid on top. Level 3 includes Licensed Graduate Nurses.
Levels
Levels 1 and 2 are LPN classifications. RNs and RPNs are Levels 3 to 6, and most bedside RNs and RPNs are Level 3. Your level comes from your position, and it is on your offer letter and your paystub.
Steps
Each level has ten steps, one for each year of service from the first to the tenth. A regular nurse moves up a step on each anniversary of their start date as a regular employee (Article 12). Some leaves pause that clock (Article 37).
Recognition pay at 15, 20, 25 and 30 years
On top of the grid, long service adds an hourly amount to every hour paid. Regular nurses qualify by years of seniority; casual nurses by hours.
| Regular | Casual | Added |
|---|---|---|
| 15 years | 29,250 hours | +$0.52 an hour |
| 20 years | 39,000 hours | +$1.29 an hour |
| 25 years | 48,750 hours | +$2.32 an hour |
| 30 years | 58,500 hours | +$3.61 an hour |
What the grid leaves out
Most shifts pay more than the base rate. Evening, night and weekend hours, the regular employee premium and specialty unit premiums are added per hour, and overtime multiplies the base. See shift premiums and overtime.
qNurse is independent and is not affiliated with the BC Nurses' Union, the Nurses' Bargaining Association, HEABC or any employer. Your paystub and your employer's records are the authority. Rates current as of October 16, 2026.