The Maximum Insurable Earnings (MIE) is the upper limit on income subject to Employment Insurance premiums in a given year. For 2026, the MIE is $68,900. Income earned above the MIE is not insurable: no EI premiums are deducted on the excess, and EI benefits are calculated only on earnings up to the MIE.
2026 EI rates and maximums
| Item | Outside Quebec | Quebec |
|---|---|---|
| MIE | $68,900 | $68,900 |
| Employee rate | 1.63% | 1.30% |
| Maximum employee premium | $1,123.07 | $895.70 |
| Employer rate | 2.282% | 1.82% |
| Maximum employer premium per employee | $1,572.30 | $1,253.98 |
How MIE is set
The MIE is indexed annually by the Canada Employment Insurance Commission based on changes to the average insurable earnings of Canadian workers.
Why Quebec rates differ
Quebec administers its own parental insurance program (QPIP), so the federal EI parental benefit portion is removed from the Quebec employee rate. QPIP premiums are deducted separately at 0.494% on earnings up to $98,000 in 2026.