Minimum wage in North Carolina, 2000–2026
- Minimum wage in 2026
$7.25 an hour (federal and state law)1
The same as the federal rate.
- Tipped employees
$2.13 an hour in cash2
The cash wage federal law requires; up to $5.12 of tips counted toward the minimum wage. Tipped: more than $20 a month in tips.
- Overtime
Premium pay after 40 hours a week3
The North Carolina minimum wage rose from $5.15 in 2000 to $7.25 in 2010, still the rate in 2026
Line chart of the North Carolina minimum wage against the federal minimum: $5.15 in 2000, $7.25 in 2010, $7.25 in 2020, and $7.25 in 2026. The federal minimum was $5.15 in 2000 and $7.25 in 2026.
What a full-time minimum-wage employee costs in North Carolina
At $7.25 an hour for 40 hours a week, a new employer with 10 staff pays $15,080 in wages and $1,490 on top (9.9%) in payroll taxes and workers' comp.
- Wages (2,080 paid hours a year)
- $15,080
- Social Security (employer share)6.2%5 of $15,080
- $935
- Medicare (employer share)1.45%6 of $15,080
- $219
- Workers' compensation (benchmark index rate)$0.95 per $100 of payroll9
- $143
- Total a year
- $16,570
If you also offer single health coverage, the average employer here pays about $6,600 more a year: a $8,612 average premium10 less $2,012 paid by the employee10.
Change the inputs in the North Carolina employer cost calculator
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage for tipped employees in North Carolina?
$2.13 an hour in cash, with up to $5.12 of tips counted toward North Carolina's $7.25.
How much does a minimum-wage employee cost an employer in North Carolina?
About $16,570 a year full time at $7.25: $15,080 of pay plus $1,490 on top, $1,346 in payroll taxes and $143 in workers' comp, before any health coverage.
More minimum wage and employer cost pages
Employer costs in North Carolina
States with a similar minimum wage
Data and rules for every state
Sources
The 10 pages this page's facts come from, with the day we last checked each one. The numbers beside the figures above link here.
Quotes from the sources
- North Carolina Department of Labor labor.nc.gov/workplace-rights/employee-rights-regarding-time-worked-and-wages-earned/minimum-wage-nc“The minimum wage in North Carolina is currently $7.25 an hour.”
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/minimum-wage/tipped“Definition of Tipped Employee by Minimum Tips received (monthly unless otherwise specified) … State minimum cash wage payment is the same as that required under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act ($2.13/hr.) … North Carolina 13 $7.25 $5.12 $2.13 More than $20”
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state“North Carolina … Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $7.25 … Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Weekly - 40 … The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate, unless otherwise specified.”
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division Changes in Basic Minimum Wages in Non-Farm Employment Under State Law: Selected Years 1968 to 2024“North Carolina 1.00 1.25 1.45 2.00 2.50 2.75 2.90 … North Carolina 3.35 3.35 3.80 4.25 4.25 4.25 5.15 … North Carolina 5.15 5.15 5.15 5.15 5.15 5.15 5.15 … North Carolina 6.15 6.15 6.55 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25 … North Carolina 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25 … North Carolina 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25” “Federal (FLSA) $1.15 & $1.60 $1.30 & $1.60 $1.60 $2.20 & $2.30 $2.90 $3.10 $3.35 … Federal (FLSA) $3.35 $3.80 $4.25 $4.25 $4.25 $4.75 $5.15 … Federal (FLSA) $5.15 $5.15 $5.15 $5.15 $5.15 $5.15 5.15 … Federal (FLSA) 5.15 5.85 6.55 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25 … Federal (FLSA) 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25 … Federal (FLSA) 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25”
- Internal Revenue Service IRS Publication 15 (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide“For 2026, the social security tax rate is 6.2% (amount withheld) each for the employer and employee (12.4% total).”
- Social Security Administration ssa.gov/oact/cola/cbb.html“Tax rates under the HI program are 1.45 percent for employees and employers, each, and 2.90 percent for self-employed persons.”
- Internal Revenue Service irs.gov/taxtopics/tc759“If you're entitled to the maximum 5.4% credit, the FUTA tax rate after credit is 0.6%.” “FUTA tax rate: The FUTA tax rate is 6.0%. The tax applies to the first $7,000 you paid to each employee as wages during the year.”
- U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/content/sigpros/2020-2029/January2026.pdf“New employer rate shown is the base rate. … NC … 1.00%” “NC … $34,200”
- Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services oregon.gov/dcbs/reports/cost/Pages/premium-index-rates.aspx“Premium index rate: $0.75-$1.00 … State Index rate Percent of study median … 33 30 North Carolina 0.95 87%”
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (MEPS-IC) meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_stats/summ_tables/insr/state/series_2/2025/ic25_iia_f.pdf“Table II.C.1 Average total single premium (in dollars) per enrolled employee … Division and State Total … North Carolina 8,612 7,186 7,949 7,448 8,076 9,158 7,872 8,728” “Table II.C.2 Average total employee contribution (in dollars) per enrolled employee for single coverage … Division and State Total … North Carolina 2,012 -- -- 1,937 1,254 2,295 2,012 2,013”