North Carolina Minimum Wage — As of October 2026, the minimum wage in North Carolina is $7.25 per hour, because state law ties the rate directly to the federal minimum wage, which has not changed since 2009. No increase is scheduled for 2027. Tipped employees may be paid a cash wage of $2.13 per hour, with tips expected to bring total earnings to at least $7.25 — and North Carolina adds a requirement most states don’t have: your employer must get a signed tip certification from you each month. Overtime under North Carolina’s Wage and Hour Act mirrors federal law: 1.5 times your regular rate for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek. If your employer isn’t paying you correctly, contact Frisch Law Firm for a free consultation.
Recordkeeping
Under North Carolina Law, an employer must give an itemized statement of all deductions to its employees every time they get a paycheck. The employer does not have to list the rate of pay or the hours on the check-stub. The information can also be listed on the check.
Last Paycheck
Under North Carolina Law, your employer has to pay you on or before the next regular payday for the pay period in which you worked when your separation takes place. Your employer may pay you early before the payday, but this is up to the employer. Your employer is within its rights to wait until the regular payday to pay you your final wages.
To learn more about North Carolina Wage and Hour Law and North Carolina Overtime Law visit the North Carolina Department of Labor at http://www.nclabor.com/wh/wh.htm
