2018 North Carolina Minimum Wage
The 2018 North Carolina Minimum Wage is $7.25.
Effective 2018-01-01Source: Minimum Wage in N.C. (North Carolina Department of Labor)Verified 2026-09-01
Compared with 2017
Every figure on this page is unchanged from 2017.
| Item | 2017 | 2018 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0 (+0.0%) |
Who it applies to
All employees working for employers doing business in North Carolina, except agricultural and domestic employees who are subject to the federal minimum wage. The state minimum wage also applies to the state of North Carolina, county and local governments, and instrumentalities of government.
What changed this year, and why
The minimum wage in North Carolina for 2018 remained $7.25 per hour, unchanged from 2017.
Common questions
- Did the minimum wage change from 2017 to 2018?
- No. The minimum wage was $7.25 per hour in both 2017 and 2018.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
North Carolina permits a lower subminimum wage of $2.13 per hour for workers who regularly receive tips, provided the combination of that cash wage and the tips received brings the employee's total earnings to at least the full state minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. If a tipped employee in North Carolina does not earn enough in tips to close the gap, the employer is required to increase the cash wage so that the employee receives at least $7.25 per hour in total compensation. The employer must also give the employee advance notice of the tip credit and must keep accurate records of all tips received.
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)
When a city or county sets a higher minimum wage
North Carolina does not allow cities or counties to set a minimum wage higher than the state rate. The $7.25 per hour minimum wage applies uniformly across the state, including to county and local governments themselves. If a municipality attempted to require employers to pay more than $7.25, that local ordinance would conflict with state law. Workers in North Carolina therefore receive the same minimum hourly wage whether they work in Charlotte, Raleigh, Asheville, or any other community. Employers must follow the $7.25 rate statewide, and no local government can impose a higher floor.
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
Workers in North Carolina who have questions about minimum wage rates or who need to file a wage complaint should contact the North Carolina Department of Labor. The department operates a toll-free hotline at 1-800-NC-LABOR (1-800-625-2267) where employees can speak with staff about workplace rights, including minimum wage and overtime violations. The Wage and Hour Division investigates complaints and can help recover unpaid wages. Workers should be prepared to provide details about their employer, the wages they were paid, and the hours they worked. The department also maintains a Wage and Hour Training Calendar with informational presentations throughout the state.
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
When both federal and state minimum wage laws apply, employees in North Carolina are entitled to the higher of the two rates. Since the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour and North Carolina's state minimum wage is also $7.25, workers receive that amount. However, if the federal rate were to increase above the state rate, North Carolina employers would be required to pay the higher federal amount. The state law provides greater employee protections than the federal law only when the state rate exceeds the federal floor. In cases where both laws apply, the employer must follow whichever standard gives the worker more protection. Agricultural and domestic employees in North Carolina are subject only to the federal minimum wage, not the state rate.
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 employers may count tips toward the minimum wage obligation, but only under strict conditions. An employer must pay tipped employees at least $2.13 an hour in cash wages and the employee must receive enough in tips to bring total earnings to at least the full minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. If a tipped employee does not earn enough in tips to close the gap, the employer must make up the difference. Employees must be notified in advance that a tip credit will be taken, must be permitted to retain all tips, and must certify their tips monthly or each pay period. The employer must maintain accurate and complete records of all tips received. The tip credit rules ensure that workers who depend on gratuities still receive at least the full minimum wage for every hour worked.
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
North Carolina’s state minimum wage is set at the same level as the federal minimum wage — $7.25 an hour — so employers in the state must pay at least that amount to nearly all workers. Even though the state’s own statute technically names a lower figure, a provision of North Carolina law directs that whenever the federal rate exceeds the state rate, the higher federal amount controls. As a result, the federal floor governs what workers actually receive, with only narrow carve-outs such as agricultural and domestic employees, who remain subject solely to the federal minimum wage rules. For the great majority of employees in North Carolina, the $7.25 hourly rate applies regardless of whether the paycheck comes from a private business, a county government, or a state agency. The rule means that a worker in the state does not need to track separate state and federal schedules; the higher of the two rates — currently the federal rate — is the one employers must follow.
The minimum wage in North Carolina is currently $7.25 an hour. 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