NCNorth Carolina minimum wage 2026
The lowest your employer can pay you in North Carolina is $7.25 an hour, since July 24, 2009. If you get tips, you must still get at least $2.13 an hour in cash, and tips must bring you to $7.25.
North Carolina minimum wage, all the numbers
| What | Amount | Where we checked |
|---|---|---|
| Per hour right now | $7.25 | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Next change | None planned | |
| Cash pay for tipped workers | $2.13 | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Tips an employer may count toward the minimum | up to $5.12 an hour | |
| Overtime rate at minimum wage (1.5 times) | $10.88 | North Carolina overtime rules |
| A 40-hour week | $290.00 | |
| A month, full time | $1,256.67 | |
| A year, full time (2,080 hours) | $15,080.00 | |
| Federal minimum (the national floor) | $7.25 | U.S. Department of Labor |
Statewide federal rate. Seasonal amusement and recreation employers owe overtime after 45 hours. A tip credit is allowed only if the employer gets a signed certification of tips received each pay period or month.
What these words mean
- Minimum wage
- The lowest hourly pay an employer may give you. Your state's rate applies if it is higher than the federal $7.25.
- Tip credit
- In some states an employer can pay tipped workers a lower cash wage and count your tips toward the minimum wage. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference.
- Overtime
- Extra pay for extra hours. Federal law says 1.5 times your normal rate for every hour over 40 in a work week. Some states add rules for long days.
- Wage complaint
- A free claim you file with your state labor office or the U.S. Department of Labor when you are not paid what the law requires.
Questions
What is the minimum wage in North Carolina right now?
$7.25 an hour, since July 24, 2009. Statewide federal rate. Seasonal amusement and recreation employers owe overtime after 45 hours.
Is the North Carolina minimum wage going up in 2027?
No increase is planned. It stays at $7.25 unless lawmakers or voters change it.
I get tips. What must my employer pay me in cash?
At least $2.13 an hour in cash. Your employer may count up to $5.12 of your tips toward the minimum wage, but if tips fall short of $7.25 an hour in total, the employer must make up the gap. A tip credit is allowed only if the employer gets a signed certification of tips received each pay period or month.
What is my overtime rate if I earn minimum wage in North Carolina?
$10.88 an hour (1.5 times the minimum wage) for hours over 40 in a week. See North Carolina overtime rules.
How much is minimum wage per year in North Carolina?
$15,080.00 before tax for 40 hours a week all year (2,080 hours). That is $290.00 a week and $1,256.67 a month.
My employer pays less than $7.25. What can I do?
Check whether you are covered: a few small employers and some jobs have different rules (see the notes above). If you are covered, you can file a free wage complaint with the North Carolina labor office or the U.S. Department of Labor, and it is illegal to punish you for it.
More North Carolina pay rules
Verified October 29, 2026 against the U.S. Department of Labor state table and North Carolina sources. Next scheduled check: January 1, 2027. Change log.