2025 North Carolina Minimum Wage
The 2025 North Carolina Minimum Wage is $7.25.
Effective 2025-01-01Source: Minimum Wage in N.C. (North Carolina Department of Labor)Verified 2026-09-01
Compared with 2024
Every figure on this page is unchanged from 2024.
| Item | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0 (+0.0%) |
Who it applies to
All employees working in North Carolina, with agricultural and domestic employees subject to the federal minimum wage. The rate also applies to state, county, and local government employers.
What changed this year, and why
The minimum wage in North Carolina for 2025 remains $7.25 per hour.
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage in North Carolina for 2025?
- The minimum wage in North Carolina is $7.25 per hour for 2025.
- Does the minimum wage apply to government employers?
- Yes. The $7.25 per hour state minimum wage applies to the state of North Carolina, county and local governments, and instrumentalities of government.
When a city or county sets a higher minimum wage
The $7.25 state minimum wage explicitly extends beyond private employers. In North Carolina, the rate also applies to the state itself, to county governments, to local governments and to instrumentalities of government. That means a city or county in North Carolina cannot set a lower wage floor for its own workers or for workers within its borders than the rate shown on this page. A local government may still choose to pay its employees more than $7.25 an hour through an ordinance or employment contract, but the $7.25 floor set by the state is the binding minimum for any public employer in North Carolina. Workers employed by a municipality, county or other government instrumentality in the state should expect to receive at least $7.25 per hour, and any lower local rate would not be lawful under the state provision.
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 the state minimum wage or believe they are not being paid correctly can contact the North Carolina Department of Labor directly. The page directs readers to a toll free number, 1-800-NC-LABOR (1-800-625-2267), which connects callers to the Wage and Hour section for information and assistance. A worker with a complaint about unpaid wages, wages below $7.25 an hour, or an improper tip credit should use that number or the Wage and Hour resources listed on the site, including the Wage and Hour Training Calendar and the informational presentation calendar, to learn about filing a wage complaint and understanding rights regarding time worked and wages earned.
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's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. This rate applies to most employees working in the state, including state and local government workers. However, agricultural and domestic employees are subject to the federal minimum wage rather than the state rate. Because both rates are currently $7.25, these workers receive the same amount regardless of which law covers them. If either the federal or state rate changes in the future, employers must follow whichever law requires the higher wage for the employees it covers.
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 may count tips toward the minimum wage for tipped employees, but only under strict conditions. The employer must pay at least $2.13 an hour in cash wages. If the tips an employee receives plus that $2.13 cash wage do not add up to $7.25 an hour, the employer must pay more in cash to cover the shortfall. Before using this tip credit, the employer must notify the employee in advance, allow the employee to keep all tips, and maintain complete records that the employee certifies each pay period or monthly. The employer's responsibility is to make sure every tipped employee reaches the full minimum wage when cash wages and tips are combined. Workers in North Carolina who receive tips should verify that their employer is following these rules and that their total compensation meets the state minimum each hour worked.
Employers MUST pay more than the $2.13 hourly cash wage if the tipped employee earns less than the credit in tips per hour, as it is the employer’s responsibility to make sure that all tipped employees earn at least the minimum wage in cash wages and tips.
Minimum Wage in N.C. (North Carolina Department of Labor)
Why the federal rate applies when the state rate is lower
In North Carolina, the state minimum wage is $7.25 per hour for most employees, but agricultural and domestic workers are not covered by this state rate. Instead, those workers are subject to the federal minimum wage. North Carolina's $7.25 per hour also applies to the state government itself, county governments, local governments, and instrumentalities of government. The state minimum wage does not change based on local ordinances or county decisions. Employers doing business in North Carolina must pay at least $7.25 per hour to all covered employees. Workers in agriculture or domestic service should check whether the federal rate applies to them, since North Carolina's state law does not extend to those categories. If you are unsure which rate applies to your job, you can contact the North Carolina Department of Labor for guidance.
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