2019 North Carolina Minimum Wage
The 2019 North Carolina Minimum Wage is $7.25.
Effective 2019-01-01Source: Minimum Wage in N.C. (North Carolina Department of Labor)Verified 2026-08-30
Compared with 2018
Every figure on this page is unchanged from 2018.
| Item | 2018 | 2019 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0 (+0.0%) |
Who it applies to
All employers doing business in North Carolina, including the state, county and local governments, and instrumentalities of government. Agricultural and domestic employees are subject to the federal minimum wage.
What changed this year, and why
The minimum wage in North Carolina for 2019 is $7.25 per hour, unchanged from 2018.
Common questions
- Did the minimum wage change from 2018 to 2019?
- No. The hourly minimum wage remained $7.25 in both 2018 and 2019.
When a city or county sets a higher minimum wage
North Carolina sets its minimum wage at $7.25 per hour, and this rate applies to the state itself, county governments, local governments, and instrumentalities of government. North Carolina does not authorize cities or counties to establish a higher local minimum wage. Workers in every part of the state are covered by the same $7.25 hourly floor, whether they work in a large city or a rural county. If you work for a local government employer in North Carolina, your employer must pay you at least $7.25 per hour. The state does not have a separate or additional local rate, so there is no higher minimum wage to look for based on your city or county within North Carolina.
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
If you have questions about North Carolina's minimum wage or need to file a wage complaint, you can contact the North Carolina Department of Labor. The department provides a toll-free number: 1-800-NC-LABOR (1-800-625-2267). This is the state agency responsible for enforcing wage and hour laws, including the $7.25 per hour minimum wage requirement. You can call this number to get information about your workplace rights or to report a wage violation.
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
In North Carolina, agricultural and domestic workers are not covered by the state minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Instead, these workers are subject to the federal minimum wage. This means that if the federal rate is higher than North Carolina's rate, agricultural and domestic employees would be paid the higher federal amount. For all other workers in North Carolina, the state rate of $7.25 per hour applies. When both state and federal minimum wage laws cover an employee, the employer must pay whichever rate is higher.
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
In North Carolina, employers must pay tipped employees at least $2.13 per hour in cash wages, but only if the employee's tips are enough to bring their total hourly earnings to $7.25 or more. This is called a tip credit. Before using this credit, the employer must notify the employee in advance and allow the employee to keep all of their tips. The employer must keep complete records of all tips received, and the employee must certify those tips monthly or each pay period. If a tipped employee does not earn enough in tips to reach $7.25 per hour when added to the $2.13 cash wage, the employer must increase the cash payment to cover the shortfall. The employee must always receive at least $7.25 per hour in combined wages and tips.
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 North Carolina minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, but agricultural and domestic employees are not covered by the state rate and are instead subject to the federal minimum wage. This means that workers in those categories in North Carolina may be paid a different hourly rate depending on federal law rather than the state rate that applies to most other employees. Employers doing business in North Carolina must pay at least $7.25 per hour to all other employees, including workers employed by the state government, county governments, local governments, and instrumentalities of government.
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