Owning your own business or franchise in the U.S. can be a dream for many people. Whether you are already based in the U.S. or are a foreigner looking to do business in the U.S., there is a lot to learn when it comes to each state’s laws and regulations for businesses.
The minimum wage is an unusual concept in the US, as each state has its own laws and wages that oppose the national minimum wage, which is named the federal minimum wage.
However, some states use the federal wage as their own state wage, in fact, 21 states still use this rather than set their own (higher) state wage via the consumer price index, house pricing, and cost of living. The North Carolina State minimum wage for 2024 currently matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
The graphic below highlights the North Carolina minimum wage over the past several years. The minimum wage did not go up and remains at $7.25 per hour in 2024.
If you are a full-time worker on North Carolina state minimum wage, your earnings could be as follows:
- Daily Minimum Wage: $58.00 (based on an 8-hour working day).
- Weekly Minimum Wage: $290.00 (based on a 40-hour week).
- Yearly Minimum Wage: $15,080.00 (based on being paid 52 weeks per year).
You can view and download the official North Carolina minimum wage labor law poster for 2024 here at no charge. Employers must display a poster outlining the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), ensuring that accurate employee time and pay records are kept.
Much like other states, some cities and counties may have their own minimum wage laws, to learn more about this and keep constantly updated, head over to the North Carolina Department of Labor website.
North Carolina Minimum Wage History
The table below shows the current rate and history of North Carolina’s minimum wage over the past 40+ years since 1983. You can see when there were increases in the minimum wage, how much they were, and what percentage increase it represents each year.
| State | Wage | $ Wage Increase | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2023 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2022 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2021 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2020 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2019 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2018 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2017 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2016 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2015 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2014 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2013 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2012 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2011 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2010 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2009 | $7.25 | $0.70 | 11% |
| 2008 | $6.55 | $0 | 0% |
| 2007 | $6.15 | $1.00 | 19.41% |
| 2006 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2005 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2004 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2003 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2002 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2001 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2000 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 1999 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 1998 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 1997 | $5.15 | $0.40 | 8.42% |
| 1996 | $4.75 | $0.50 | 11.76% |
| 1995 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 1994 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 1993 | $4.25 | $0.45 | 11.84% |
| 1992 | $3.80 | $0.45 | 13.43% |
| 1991 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1990 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1989 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1988 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1987 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1986 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1985 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1984 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1983 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
North Carolina Minimum Wage Exemptions
In addition to the regular minimum wage rate, there are a few North Carolina state minimum wage exemptions that typically depend on your age or employment situation. Below are the various minimum wage exemptions with some situational examples.
North Carolina Student Minimum Wage
The minimum wage for student employees in North Carolina is 85% of the North Carolina minimum wage, making their hourly pay $6.16 per hour in 2024.
This hourly rate is for any hours worked up to 20 hours per week. As a student employee, once you surpass 20 hours per week, you will be eligible to be paid the North Carolina minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour.
Being a student can be financially challenging, leading many students to pick up part-time jobs to make extra money while studying. Despite a student minimum wage rate, many North Carolina employers will not necessarily follow it and pay you equal to or more than the statewide minimum wage.
Many work-study programs are available at universities, which is a route many students go down. Still, coffee shop, cafe, bar, and restaurant jobs are commonly taken by students as they can work them into their class schedule.
North Carolina Under 20 Minimum Wage
If you are under 20 years old in North Carolina, federal law allows your employer to pay you as little as $4.25 per hour for your first 90 days of employment.
Once the 90-day period is over, you will be eligible to be paid the 2024 North Carolina minimum wage of $7.25 per hour or potentially even more.
Fortunately for young workers, this is 90 calendar days and not 90 working days; therefore, it can be completed relatively quickly and within about three months.
North Carolina Tipped Minimum Wage
If you are a tipped employee in North Carolina (someone who receives regular tips as a part of their job) then you are eligible to be paid a minimum wage of $2.13 per hour, with a tip credit of $5.12 per hour, ensuring that you reach the statewide minimum wage regardless if you make enough hourly tips.
North Carolina Overtime Minimum Wage
Once you work over 40 hours a week, you are eligible to be paid an overtime rate of 1.5 times your hourly wage for every hour you work past 40. So, the overtime North Carolina state minimum wage is $10.88 per hour, 1.5 times the minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
