North Carolina Minimum Wage 2026: $7.25/hr

North Carolina pays the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour.

Data updated September 26, 2026

Key facts for North Carolina

Minimum wage: $7.25/hr
In effect since: July 24, 2009
Tipped cash wage: $2.13/hr
Compared with federal: Same as the federal $7.25
Overtime: 1.5x after 40 hrs/week

Source

Rule: North Carolina minimum wage law
Published by: labor.nc.gov
Last updated: September 26, 2026

How we source and check data

Check your pay against these rules

Hourly rate and hours in, weekly pay with North Carolina overtime rules out.

Calculate my North Carolina overtime

North Carolina PTO payout law All states

The short answer

North Carolina's minimum wage is $7.25/hr in 2026, the same as the federal $7.25 minimum , ranked #42 of 51 US jurisdictions. The tipped cash wage is $2.13/hr.

How the North Carolina minimum wage works

In North Carolina, the minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, effective July 24, 2009. North Carolina aligns with the federal minimum wage, and a tip credit is allowed: the tipped cash wage is $2.13 per hour, with tips expected to bring total pay to at least the full minimum wage. Overtime is paid at 1.5× the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek. This reflects a state overtime law.

North Carolina's Wage and Hour Act sets the state minimum wage at $7.25/hr, the same as the federal rate. Employers may pay tipped employees a cash wage of $2.13/hr if tips make up the difference to $7.25 and employees certify their tips monthly or each pay period.

How North Carolina compares

State rate: $7.25/hr
Federal minimum: $7.25/hr
Difference: None
National rank: #42 of 51

Ranked by 2026 effective minimum wage across all 51 U.S. states and jurisdictions. Federal comparison source: U.S. Department of Labor.

North Carolina overtime rules

Weekly overtime threshold: 40 hours (1.5x)
Governing law: State overtime law

North Carolina's Wage and Hour Act requires 1.5x the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. NCDOL enforces it mainly for employers not covered by the FLSA (generally gross sales under $500,000). No daily overtime.

Sources for this page

North Carolina minimum wage — state labor department labor.nc.gov
North Carolina overtime rules — state labor department labor.nc.gov
U.S. Department of Labor dol.gov

Minimum Wage · 5 min read Minimum Wage 2026: Federal Rate, All 50 States, and Your RightsThe federal minimum wage remains $7.25, unchanged since 2009. Check your state's 2026 minimum wage rate and find out what to do if you're being underpaid.