North Carolina minimum wage 2026: $7.25 an hour, and what it means for your pay.
The current North Carolina minimum wage from the U.S. Department of Labor and the state, tipped wages, scheduled changes, the rate's history since 2014 and what entry-level jobs in North Carolina pay.
North Carolina's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's state table (updated July 1, 2026). At 40 hours a week, $7.25 works out to $290.00 a week and $15,080 a year before taxes (arithmetic, 52 weeks).
The North Carolina minimum wage now
Weekly and yearly columns are arithmetic at 40 hours a week and 52 weeks, before taxes.
| Who | Per hour | Per 40-hour week | Per year (2,080 hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All covered workers | $7.25 | $290.00 | $15,080 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor state table, updated July 1, 2026.
What DOL's North Carolina entry says
- Overtime (premium pay after): Weekly - 40.
- Premium pay is required after 45 hours a week in seasonal amusements or recreational establishments.
The federal floor: the Fair Labor Standards Act sets a federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. When a state's rate is higher, covered employers pay the state rate; when it is lower or there is none, employers covered by the federal law pay $7.25. Employers must pay the highest rate that applies, including any city or county rate.
Tipped minimum wage in North Carolina
North Carolina allows the same $2.13 tipped cash wage as federal law, according to DOL's tipped-employee table (July 1, 2026).
| Who | Combined cash and tip minimum | Maximum tip credit | Minimum cash wage | Tipped employee means (monthly tips) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $7.25 | $5.12 | $2.13 | More than $20 |
North Carolina. Tip credit is not permitted unless the employer obtains from each employee, either monthly or each pay period, a signed certification of the amount of tips received. Employers must notify employees in advance of the amount of cash wages they will be paid and the amount that wages will be increased using the tip credit.
A tip credit lets an employer count part of a worker's tips toward the minimum wage. If cash wage plus tips falls short of the full minimum wage in a week, the employer must make up the difference.
Will the North Carolina minimum wage go up in 2027?
Not yet verified. As of Nov 3, 2026 we had not verified a North Carolina rate for 2027: neither the U.S. Department of Labor's table nor an official North Carolina statement we could read lists one. Check Department of Labor (www.labor.nc.gov). We update this page from official sources only.
North Carolina minimum wage, 2014 to 2024
Rates in effect on January 1 of each year, from DOL's historical table.
| Year | Rate |
|---|---|
| 2014 | $7.25 |
| 2015 | $7.25 |
| 2016 | $7.25 |
| 2017 | $7.25 |
| 2018 | $7.25 |
| 2019 | $7.25 |
| 2020 | $7.25 |
| 2021 | $7.25 |
| 2022 | $7.25 |
| 2023 | $7.25 |
| 2024 | $7.25 |
What entry-level jobs in North Carolina actually pay
BLS estimates for May 2025: the 10th percentile is the wage below which the lowest-paid 10% of workers in the job earned; the median is the middle wage. These are earnings estimates, not legal minimums, and they include tips for tipped jobs.
| Job | 10th percentile | Median | Jobs (BLS estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast food and counter workers | $10.48 | $13.74 | 92,230 |
| Cashiers | $10.80 | $13.89 | 106,440 |
| Retail salespersons | $11.08 | $15.08 | 127,540 |
| Stockers and order fillers | $14.01 | $17.29 | 87,510 |
| Janitors and cleaners | $12.37 | $16.59 | 53,330 |
| Restaurant cooks | $13.45 | $17.02 | 50,150 |
| Hand laborers and material movers | $14.43 | $18.38 | 116,720 |
| Waiters and waitresses | $8.24 | $15.46 | 71,940 |
For pay above these levels, compare jobs that need a short credential or an apprenticeship. The pages below show BLS pay for some of them in North Carolina.
BLS wages for this job in the state.
Open →Pay by stateMedical assistant pay in North CarolinaBLS wages for this job in the state.
Open →Pay by statePharmacy technician pay in North CarolinaBLS wages for this job in the state.
Open →Pay by statePhlebotomist pay in North CarolinaBLS wages for this job in the state.
Open →Cost of livingCost of living in North CarolinaWhat pay is worth in the state.
Open →Free toolSalary to hourly calculatorConvert any wage at your own hours.
Open →All statesMinimum wage by state 2026Every state's rate on one page.
Open →Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Every rate on this page is free to use without buying anything.
Questions people ask
What is the minimum wage in North Carolina in 2026?
How much is the North Carolina minimum wage a year?
What is the tipped minimum wage in North Carolina?
Will North Carolina's minimum wage increase in 2027?
How this page is built
Rates come from the U.S. Department of Labor's state minimum wage tables, which DOL last updated on July 1, 2026. Where a state labor office has published a change after that date, or a rate for 2027, we use the state's own statement and name it; we read every source on Nov 3, 2026. The weekly and yearly figures are plain arithmetic (hourly rate × 40 hours, and × 2,080 hours for 52 weeks), not earnings data. The job-pay table uses BLS estimates of what workers actually earned in May 2025, which include tips for tipped jobs.
- City and county rates: some cities and counties set higher minimums; this page shows state rates only. Check your city or county.
- Exemptions: state laws exempt some jobs and set different rates for some minors, students, trainees and small employers.
- Legal advice: this page summarizes official tables. For a specific pay question, contact the state labor office or the U.S. Department of Labor at 1-866-487-9243.
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, State Minimum Wage Laws (updated July 1, 2026), read Nov 3, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (July 1, 2026).
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, Changes in Basic Minimum Wages in Non-Farm Employment Under State Law (January 1 rates).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 state estimates (public domain).