North Carolina Minimum Wage 2026: $7.25/hr Calculator

How North Carolina Minimum Wage Compares to the Federal Rate

North Carolina's 2026 minimum wage of $7.25 per hour is equal to the $7.25 federal minimum. The federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour has not changed since 2009, meaning workers in states like North Carolina rely on state law for meaningful wage floors.

At $7.25/hr working full-time (40 hours/week, 52 weeks/year), a North Carolina worker earns $15,080.00 gross annually. That equals $290.00 per week and roughly $1,256.67 per month.

These figures are gross (before taxes). Your take-home pay will be lower after federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45%) deductions. Use our North Carolina Income Tax Calculator for a net-pay estimate.

Last updated: August 2026. Rates sourced from the North Carolina Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division.

Tipped Workers in North Carolina

The tipped minimum wage in North Carolina is $2.13 per hour in 2026. Employers may pay tipped employees as little as $2.13/hr, but total compensation including tips must reach $7.25/hr. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference.

Tipped workers covered by North Carolina law include restaurant servers, bartenders, valets, and other service workers who regularly receive tips. Always check your pay stub to ensure your employer is meeting the full minimum wage requirement.

North Carolina's Wage and Hour Act sets the state minimum at the federal rate, so it changes only when the federal rate changes.

North Carolina Wage Increase Schedule

The 2026 minimum wage for North Carolina is $7.25/hr. North Carolina's Wage and Hour Act pegs the state minimum wage to the federal rate. With the federal minimum unchanged at $7.25 since July 2009, the North Carolina rate has held at the same level, and there is no CPI indexing to lift it automatically.

Employers must post the current North Carolina minimum wage notice at their place of business. Violations can result in back-pay orders and civil penalties. Workers who believe they are being underpaid can file a complaint with the North Carolina Department of Labor or the U.S. Department of Labor.

North Carolina's Minimum Wage Is Pegged to the Federal Rate

The North Carolina Wage and Hour Act sets the state minimum wage at the federal level rather than an independent figure, which leaves it at $7.25 an hour — unchanged since 24 July 2009. State law also preempts local minimum wage ordinances, so no city or county in North Carolina can require a higher rate. For tipped employees, employers may pay a cash wage of $2.13 and claim a tip credit, but total earnings including tips must still reach $7.25 an hour, and the employer must cover any shortfall. Because there is no indexing, the rate holds until Congress raises the federal minimum.

Bookmark this page — we update North Carolina wage data each time the state announces a new rate, including CPI-indexed adjustments.