2016 North Carolina Minimum Wage
The 2016 North Carolina Minimum Wage is $7.25.
Effective 2016-01-01Source: Minimum Wage in N.C. (North Carolina Department of Labor)Verified 2026-08-30
Compared with 2015
Every figure on this page is unchanged from 2015.
| Item | 2015 | 2016 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0 (+0.0%) |
Who it applies to
Employers doing business in North Carolina, including state and local governments and instrumentalities of government. Agricultural and domestic employees are subject to the federal minimum wage.
What changed this year, and why
North Carolina's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour for 2016.
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage in North Carolina?
- The minimum wage in North Carolina is $7.25 per hour.
When a city or county sets a higher minimum wage
North Carolina sets a statewide minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, and this floor binds not only private employers but also the state itself, every county, every local government, and every governmental instrumentality operating within North Carolina. When a city or county in North Carolina enacts a local ordinance requiring a higher hourly wage, employers within that jurisdiction must pay the higher local rate. The state rate of $7.25 therefore functions as a minimum floor, not a ceiling, for local wage policy. Workers employed by a North Carolina city or county are guaranteed at least $7.25 per hour, and they may be entitled to more if their local government has set a higher standard. Employees in North Carolina should check whether their municipality has adopted a local minimum wage that exceeds the state figure.
The $7.25 per hour state minimum wage also applies to the state of North Carolina, to county and local governments and to instrumentalities of government.
Minimum Wage in N.C. (North Carolina Department of Labor)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
The N.C. Department of Labor is the state agency responsible for enforcing North Carolina's minimum wage and other workplace rights. If you have questions about the $7.25 hourly rate, believe your employer is not paying you correctly, or need help understanding your rights under state wage law, you can reach the department by calling its toll free number at 1-800-NC-LABOR (800-625-2267). The department handles complaints about unpaid wages, minimum wage violations, and overtime disputes. When you call, you can speak with staff who can explain the rules that apply to your situation and, if appropriate, help you file a formal wage complaint. The N.C. Department of Labor serves all workers in the state, whether they work for private employers, local governments, or state agencies.
For more information about workplace rights, please contact our toll free number at 1-800-NC-LABOR (800-625-2267).
Minimum Wage in N.C. (North Carolina Department of Labor)
State minimum wage laws that give more than the federal rate
North Carolina has its own minimum wage law, and the federal government has a separate minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act. When both laws apply to an employer, the worker is entitled to whichever rate is higher. Currently, the North Carolina rate and the federal rate are both $7.25 per hour, so most covered employees in the state receive that amount. The source text notes that agricultural and domestic employees in North Carolina are subject specifically to the federal minimum wage rather than the state rate. If either the federal rate or the North Carolina rate were to change in the future so that one exceeded the other, the higher of the two would control for affected workers. Employees in North Carolina should be aware that both the state and federal governments may set wage floors, and the more protective rate always applies.
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).
Minimum Wage in N.C. (North Carolina Department of Labor)
When tips, meals or lodging count toward the minimum wage
North Carolina allows employers of tipped employees to pay a reduced cash wage of $2.13 per hour, provided the employee's tips bring total hourly earnings to at least $7.25. This mechanism is known as a tip credit: the employer counts the employee's tips toward satisfying the minimum wage obligation. The law requires that tipped employees be notified in advance about this arrangement and be allowed to keep all of their tips. If a tipped worker in North Carolina does not receive enough in tips to reach $7.25 per hour when combined with the $2.13 cash wage, the employer must make up the shortfall. The document also mentions that in certain businesses, tip pooling arrangements are permitted as long as tipped employees retain a large majority of the tips they receive. North Carolina law on this page does not separately address meal or lodging credits.
In North Carolina, an employer MUST pay at least $2.13 an hour to tipped employees as long as each employee receives enough in tips to make up the difference between the wages paid and the minimum wage ($7.25).
Minimum Wage in N.C. (North Carolina Department of Labor)
Why the federal rate applies when the state rate is lower
The federal government sets a nationwide minimum wage floor that applies in every state. When a state sets its own minimum wage below the federal level, the federal rate takes precedence for covered employers. North Carolina's current minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, which matches the federal floor. The state's law explicitly notes that agricultural and domestic employees are subject to the federal minimum wage rather than the state rate, illustrating how federal and state jurisdiction can differ for certain categories of workers. If North Carolina were to lower its minimum wage below $7.25, covered employers in the state would still be required to pay the federal amount because the higher rate always governs. Workers in North Carolina benefit from this dual-layer protection: whichever floor is higher, whether set by the state or by Congress, determines the legal minimum they must receive.
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).
Minimum Wage in N.C. (North Carolina Department of Labor)
How each figure was verified
Each number below was read from a stored copy of the document named beside it, and checked to occur word for word in the quoted sentence. The digest is of that stored text.
Minimum Wage in N.C. (North Carolina Department of Labor)
- Hourly
The minimum wage in North Carolina is currently $7.25 an hour.
Other years
Every North Carolina Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state