United States · North Carolina · Minimum wage
North Carolina minimum wage 2027.
The North Carolina minimum wage for 2027, whether it changes from 2026, and what it pays by the week, month and year.
Short answer: North Carolina's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour and no change for 2027 is published as of November 9, 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Labor state table. Tipped employees have a $2.13 minimum cash wage and a $5.12 tip credit, with the table's tip threshold set at more than $20 a month. Overtime applies after 40 hours a week, and after 45 hours in seasonal amusement or recreational establishments.
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The North Carolina minimum wage in 2027
The U.S. Department of Labor state table, updated November 5, 2026, lists a basic minimum rate of $7.25 an hour for North Carolina, the same as the federal rate that has applied since 2009. It lists premium pay after 40 hours a week and adds that premium pay is required after 45 hours a week in seasonal amusements or recreational establishments, a North Carolina-specific rule worth knowing if you work at a fair, park or similar seasonal operation.
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Basic minimum rate | $7.25 | $7.25 (no change published) |
| Tipped employees (cash wage) | $2.13 | $2.13 |
| Tip credit | $5.12 | $5.12 |
| Overtime | After 40 hours a week; 45 in seasonal amusements | Same |
What changed from 2026
Nothing is published for 2027. The Department of Labor table shows $7.25 with no scheduled step and no indexing formula for North Carolina. If the state or Congress changes the rate, the Department of Labor table will show the new figure first. Until then a 2027 pay plan should use $7.25 as the floor.
How tipped pay works in North Carolina
The tipped-wage table lists North Carolina with a $2.13 minimum cash wage, a $5.12 tip credit and a tip threshold of more than $20 a month for an employee to count as tipped, lower than the $30 figure that most states show. Cash wage plus tips must equal at least $7.25 an hour; if tips fall short, the employer pays the difference.
Worked example (2027)
A full-time worker at $7.25 an hour, 40 hours a week, earns $290.00 a week, $580.00 every two weeks, $1,256.67 a month and $15,080.00 a year (2,080 hours) before tax. Part-time at 25 hours a week is $181.25 a week and $9,425.00 a year. For a tipped worker the direct cash wage is $2.13. With 30 hours a week and tips averaging $3.00 an hour, pay is $5.13 an hour against $7.25, so the employer owes a top-up of $2.12 an hour, $63.60 for the week.
Common mix-ups
- The seasonal amusement overtime threshold is 45 hours. For most workers overtime starts after 40; the 45-hour rule is limited to seasonal amusements or recreational establishments.
- $2.13 is not the minimum wage. It is the cash wage for tipped employees, and tips must bring the total to $7.25.
- The tip threshold is $20 a month in North Carolina. The DOL tipped-wage table lists more than $20 for North Carolina against more than $30 for most states.
- Local minimums can be higher. Some local governments set rates above their state minimum, and the Department of Labor table does not display them.
Method
The converter multiplies the hourly rate by your hours per week for weekly pay, doubles it for two weeks, multiplies by 52 weeks (2,080 hours at 40 a week) for annual pay and divides the annual figure by 12 for a month. It is gross pay before tax. The tipped-worker check adds the $2.13 cash wage and your average tips per hour and compares the total with $7.25. If it falls short, the shortfall times your hours is the weekly top-up. Everything runs in your browser and nothing you type is sent anywhere. Figures were read from the sources below on November 9, 2026.
What this does not cover
- Overtime exemptions and the rules for minors.
- Local rules and employer agreements that pay more than the minimum.
- Taxes and deductions: pay here is gross pay before tax.
- Agricultural and other covered-employee special cases.
Figures read from the sources below on November 9, 2026. Last updated November 9, 2026.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Labor: State Minimum Wage Laws (updated November 5, 2026) (retrieved November 9, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor: Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (retrieved November 9, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in North Carolina in 2027?
It is $7.25 an hour, the federal rate, and the U.S. Department of Labor state table shows no 2027 change as of November 9, 2026.
What is the North Carolina tipped minimum wage?
$2.13 an hour in cash wage with a $5.12 tip credit, so cash wage plus tips must equal at least $7.25.
Will North Carolina raise its minimum wage in 2027?
No increase is listed on the Department of Labor table, which was updated November 5, 2026.
How much is $7.25 an hour a year?
At 40 hours a week for 52 weeks it is $15,080.00 before tax, or $290.00 a week.
When does overtime start in North Carolina?
After 40 hours a week, according to the Department of Labor table, which adds a 45-hour rule for seasonal amusements and recreational establishments.
What is the tip threshold in North Carolina?
The tipped-wage table lists more than $20 a month for North Carolina; most other states list more than $30.
Where can I check the rate myself?
On the U.S. Department of Labor state minimum wage table, linked in the sources section.
Not legal advice
This page is general information from an unofficial guide, not legal, payroll or tax advice. Wage laws change and exemptions apply to some workers. Confirm the rate with the state labor agency before you set pay. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.