North Carolina minimum wage 2027: stays $7.25 an hour

North Carolina minimum wage 2027: no increase scheduled in 2027: the federal $7.25 per hour (NCDOL Wage and Hour Act notice; U.S. DOL state table). Verified Oct 13, 2026 on two official pages.

“The federal minimum wage increased to $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009; therefore, employers in North Carolina are required to pay their employees at least $7.25 per hour.”

Second official source: “North Carolina Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $7.25” (U.S. DOL state table).

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What changes for North Carolina employers in 2027

Rate in force now: North Carolina minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. (North Carolina minimum wage (U.S. DOL WHD, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated July 1, 2026); NC Department of Labor, Minimum Wage in N.C.; verified Sep 27, 2026).

Other North Carolina minimum rates

• Tipped employees: “An employer may pay as little as $2.13 per hour to tipped employees so long as each employee receives enough in tips to make up the difference between the wages paid and the minimum wage.” (NCDOL Wage and Hour Act notice)
• Full-time students, learners, apprentices and messengers: “(b) In order to prevent curtailment of opportunities for employment, the wage rate for full-time students, learners, apprentices, and messengers, as defined under the Fair Labor Standards Act, shall be ninety percent (90%) of the rate in effect under subsection (a) above, rounded to the lowest nickel.” (G.S. 95-25.3 (NC General Assembly))
• Agricultural and domestic employees: “Employers doing business in North Carolina are required to pay at least $7.25 per hour to all employees (agricultural and domestic employees are subject to the federal minimum wage).” (NCDOL Minimum Wage in N.C.)

How we checked that nothing changes in 2027

• G.S. 95-25.3 as published by the North Carolina General Assembly sets $6.15 or the federal minimum wage, whichever is higher, so the federal $7.25 applies; it has no state step or indexing in 2027 (G.S. 95-25.3 (NC General Assembly)).
• The N.C. Department of Labor gives $7.25 as the current minimum wage on November 12, 2026 (NCDOL Minimum Wage in N.C.).
• The State Board of Elections results for November 3, 2026 list three statewide referenda, all constitutional amendments: photo ID for voting, a 3.5% maximum income tax rate and a property tax levy limit; none is about the minimum wage (NC State Board of Elections results).

Paying the minimum wage in North Carolina: paydays, final pay and breaks

• Paydays: Wages must be paid on the regular payday; pay periods may be daily, weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly or monthly. (North Carolina payday (U.S. DOL WHD, State Payday Requirements, footnote 18); U.S. District Court, M.D.N.C., No. 1:06-cv-00277, quoting N.C. Gen. Stat. § 95-25.6; verified Sep 27, 2026)
• Final pay after a firing: Whether the employee is fired or quits, all wages due must be paid on or before the next regular payday, through the regular pay channels or by mail if the employee requests it. (NC Department of Labor, Payment of Final Wages to Separated Employees (G.S. 95-25.7); NC Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Act workplace poster; verified Sep 24, 2026)
• Final pay after a resignation: Whether the employee is fired or quits, all wages due must be paid on or before the next regular payday, through the regular pay channels or by mail if the employee requests it. (NC Department of Labor, Payment of Final Wages to Separated Employees (G.S. 95-25.7); NC Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Act workplace poster; verified Sep 24, 2026)
• Meal breaks: No state meal break requirement for employees 16 years of age or older. (U.S. DOL WHD, Table of Meal Period Requirements Under State Law (North Carolina not listed); NC Department of Labor, What to Know About Breaks; verified Sep 27, 2026)
• Rest breaks: No state rest break requirement for employees 16 years of age or older. (U.S. DOL WHD, Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law, footnote 1; NC Department of Labor, What to Know About Breaks; verified Sep 27, 2026)

Every verified rule for the state, with the law cited: North Carolina employer rulebook.

Exempt salary threshold in 2027: Federal $684 a week ($35,568 a year); no higher state threshold found (U.S. DOL thresholds page; eCFR 29 CFR 541.600) Verified Oct 21, 2026

Each change with its official text: North Carolina rules.

North Carolina minimum wage rates: now, 2027 and next

How the next North Carolina rate is set

“the minimum wage set forth in paragraph 1 of section 6(a) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1), as that wage may change from time to time, whichever is higher” (G.S. 95-25.3(a), North Carolina General Assembly)

2027 minimum wage: North Carolina and neighboring states

Each state links to its rulebook, and to its own 2027 minimum wage page where we have one. The same rows, for every state, are in the 2027 table by state.

How to act on it

Full-time pay at the rate in 2027 (computed: hourly rate × 40 hours a week and × 2,080 hours a year, before taxes): $7.25 = $290.00 a week, $15,080 a year.

Questions about the North Carolina minimum wage in 2027

Sources (18)

• NCDOL Wage and Hour Act notice
• U.S. DOL state table
• U.S. DOL thresholds page
• eCFR 29 CFR 541.600
• G.S. 95-25.3 (NC General Assembly)
• NCDOL Minimum Wage in N.C.
• NC State Board of Elections results
• North Carolina payday (U.S. DOL WHD, State Payday Requirements, footnote 18)
• U.S. District Court, M.D.N.C., No. 1:06-cv-00277, quoting N.C. Gen. Stat. § 95-25.6
• NC Department of Labor, Payment of Final Wages to Separated Employees (G.S. 95-25.7)
• NC Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Act workplace poster
• U.S. DOL WHD, Table of Meal Period Requirements Under State Law (North Carolina not listed)
• NC Department of Labor, What to Know About Breaks
• U.S. DOL WHD, Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law, footnote 1
• U.S. DOL minimum wage page
• 29 U.S.C. §206 (govinfo)
• Virginia DOLI home page
• Georgia DOL minimum wage page

Checked Oct 13, 2026 · How we verify every rule · Report an error

Where this goes next

StateNorth Carolina employer rulebookAll 51 statesMinimum wage by state 20272027Every North Carolina change in 2027ToolHourly to salary calculator