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North Carolina · OFFICIAL SOURCES & THRESHOLDS

North Carolina
Minimum wage.

Check official requirements, employee thresholds, effective dates, and employer responsibilities for minimum wage.

Notice: General informational guidance, not legal advice. Read the full legal disclaimer. Federal, state, and municipal regulations operate concurrently.
Minimum wage · North CarolinaChanged recently

North Carolina minimum wage

$7.25 per hour (federal minimum wage)

North Carolina's minimum wage equals the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, per the U.S. Department of Labor consolidated minimum wage table.

Employee threshold: 0+ employees in North Carolina · All industries
Effective
Jan 1, 2026
Official source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table Last checked Nov 1, 2026
No expert reviewer assigned to this entry. General information, not legal advice.

Thresholds, dates & upcoming changes

Jurisdiction / rule Requirement Employees / industry Effective / status Official source / last checked
North Carolina
North Carolina minimum wage 		$7.25 per hour (federal minimum wage) 0–any employees
All industries 		Jan 1, 2026
Current 		U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table
Checked Nov 1, 2026
THE DATED RECORD

What changed in North Carolina?

North Carolina minimum wage

North Carolina · Minimum wage

jurisdiction id: Not previously published → 35
topic id: Not previously published → 1
title: Not previously published → North Carolina minimum wage
summary: Not previously published → North Carolina's minimum wage equals the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, per the U.S. Department of Labor consolidated minimum wage table.
value text: Not previously published → $7.25 per hour (federal minimum wage)
value numeric: Not previously published → 7.25
effective date: Not previously published → 2026-01-01 00:00:00
status: Not previously published → active
min employees: Not previously published → 0
industry: Not previously published → Removed
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table · Effective Jan 1, 2026 · Last checked Nov 1, 2026 · View current requirement →
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions employers ask about Minimum wage in North Carolina

What is the North Carolina minimum wage requirement for 0+ employees?

$7.25 per hour (federal minimum wage). North Carolina's minimum wage equals the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, per the U.S. Department of Labor consolidated minimum wage table.

When did North Carolina minimum wage take effect?

Effective January 1, 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table. Last checked November 1, 2026.

Who must follow North Carolina minimum wage?

Employers with 0 or more employees in North Carolina across all industries.

What is the penalty for violating North Carolina minimum wage?

No penalty information has been published in this entry. Consult the official source.

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