North Carolina Minimum Wage 2026
The minimum wage in North Carolina is $7.25/hr (follows the federal minimum).
What this means for hiring in North Carolina
The North Carolina minimum wage sets the floor for what you can legally pay hourly workers, but the real cost of hiring goes well past base pay. The cost of a bad hire (turnover, lost productivity, training a replacement) typically runs 30% of first-year wages. That's why employers are moving away from resume-only screening toward seeing real proof of skill before they bring someone on.
On Vetano, every candidate in North Carolina is ID-verified and shows their skills on video before you ever see their profile, so you spend your minimum-wage hours on people who can actually do the job.
Federal vs. North Carolina
The federal minimum wage is $7.25/hr. North Carolina follows the federal minimum, so most employers pay $7.25/hr or more.
FAQ
What is the minimum wage in North Carolina?+
$7.25 per hour as of 2026-05-15.
What is the tipped minimum wage in North Carolina?+
$2.13 per hour. Employers must make up any shortfall if tips don't reach the full minimum.
Is North Carolina's minimum wage going up?+
No scheduled increases at this time.
Minimum wage in every state
Browse 2026 rates for all 50 states + DC, or see the full wage index.