NCFollows the federal floor
North Carolina minimum wage 2026
The North Carolina minimum wage is $7.25 per hour as of 2009-07-24. The tipped cash wage is $2.13 with a tip credit of $5.12. [NC labor dept.][DOL WHD]
Standard minimum
NC$7.25
Effective 2009-07-24.
Verified 2026-06-24
Tipped cash wage
$2.13
Tip credit ceiling $5.12.
Verified 2026-06-24
vs federal $7.25
matches
State mirrors the FLSA federal floor.
Verified 2009-07-24
Next scheduled step
None
No further increase scheduled in statute.
Verified 2026-06-24
Tip-credit split
Cash $2.13Credit $5.12Combined $7.25
Take-home at the North Carolina minimum
Estimated take-home at $7.25 per hour
20 hours/week
$145.00
~$128/wk after tax
$7,540 annual gross
30 hours/week
$217.50
~$192/wk after tax
$11,310 annual gross
40 hours/week
$290.00
~$256/wk after tax
$15,080 annual gross
Estimate uses 2026 federal brackets (single filer), FICA 7.65 percent, and a flat state effective rate. Actual withholding varies by W-4 and credits.
Statute and indexing
N.C. Gen. Stat. section 95-25.3 mirrors the FLSA rate of $7.25. Local-ordinance authority limited by N.C. Gen. Stat. section 95-25.1.
Companion page
North Carolina tipped wage
Tool
Take-home calculator
Reference
Federal vs state delta