Build Your BidKnow your floor. Never quote under it.

Nova Scotia labour burden calculator — 2026

What an hour of your crew actually costs you once CPP, EI, WCB Nova Scotia, vacation pay and public holidays are on top of the wage. Statutory-only residential lands somewhere between 16% and 23% depending on where you work.

Your crew

Average wage $/hrBefore burden — the number on the cheque.

Paid hours per worker, per week

Working weeks per year

CPP and EI are capped, so the percentages depend on what a worker earns in a year — that is why the wage and hours matter here.

Burden is what the government and your own policies add on top of the wage. Pick what applies; the percentage builds itself. Rates are 2026 Nova Scotia — check your WCB Nova Scotia statement for your class.

ProvinceCompensation board, vacation, holidays and sales tax all change with it.

WCB Nova Scotia classIt's on your premium rate statement. Restoration and cleaning are often a different class from building.

Vacation payNova Scotia: 4% under 8 years' service, 6% after.

Paid public holidays6 a year in Nova Scotia. Counts if you pay the day and can't bill it.

Benefits plan, $ per worker per monthHealth, dental, RRSP match. 0 if none.

CPP, employer share5.95% above the $3,500 exemption, at your average wage5.55%

EI, employer share1.63% × 1.42.28%

WCB Nova Scotia4.73%

Vacation pay4.00%

Public holidays2.55%

Benefits0.00%

Burden19.12%

Burden is only half of it. The other half is overhead — the truck, the insurance, the office, and the hours nobody pays for. Put both together and you get your floor. See what Build Your Bid does →

Nova Scotia defaults (HST 14%, ~19.1% burden). Nothing here is accounting or legal advice.

Rates are 2026 Nova Scotia: CPP 5.95% above the $3,500 exemption with a second tier of 4% between $74,600 and $85,000, EI 1.63% × 1.4 up to $68,900, WCB Nova Scotia by class up to $79,900 of assessable earnings, vacation 4% rising to 6% at 8 years, and 6 paid public holidays. Check your own WCB Nova Scotia premium rate statement for your class. Nothing here is accounting or legal advice.