North Carolina Paycheck Calculator 2026

Estimate your 2026 take-home pay in North Carolina after federal, state and FICA taxes.

North Carolina Tax & Pay Facts (2026)

State income tax 3.9900% flat
Minimum wage$7.25/hr
Cost of living index95.7
Overtime1.5x over 40 hrs/week

Salary Examples in North Carolina

Gross salaryFederalStateFICATake-home
$40,000 $2,620 $1,596 $3,060 $32,724
$60,000 $5,020 $2,394 $4,590 $47,996
$80,000 $8,770 $3,192 $6,120 $61,918
$100,000 $13,170 $3,990 $7,650 $75,190
$150,000 $24,734 $5,985 $11,475 $107,806

Take-Home Pay by Pay Period in North Carolina

How much lands in each paycheck depends on how often you are paid. Based on an $80,000 salary in North Carolina — about $61,918/year after federal, state and FICA taxes — here is the estimated take-home for each common pay frequency:

Pay frequencyPaychecks / yearTake-home each
Weekly 52 $1,191
Bi-weekly 26 $2,381
Semi-monthly 24 $2,580
Monthly 12 $5,160

Weekly pays 52 checks a year, bi-weekly 26, semi-monthly 24 and monthly 12. Amounts are before any post-tax deductions such as health premiums or 401(k) contributions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does North Carolina have a state income tax?

Yes. North Carolina has a flat state income tax of 3.99% in 2026, on top of federal income tax and FICA.

How much is taken out of my paycheck in North Carolina?

Federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%) and North Carolina state income tax. Most workers keep around 68–80% of gross pay — use the calculator above for your exact take-home.

What is the minimum wage in North Carolina?

The minimum wage in North Carolina is $7.25 per hour (2026).

Is this also a payroll, salary, and wage calculator for North Carolina?

Yes. A paycheck calculator, payroll calculator, salary calculator and wage calculator all answer the same question — how much of your pay you keep after taxes. It works for salaried and hourly workers alike: pick Annual salary or Hourly wage above. For an hourly wage, enter your rate and hours per week and it annualizes automatically (for example, $25/hour × 40 hours × 52 weeks = $52,000 a year).

How much is take-home pay per paycheck in North Carolina — weekly, biweekly, or monthly?

Divide your annual take-home pay by the number of paychecks you receive: 52 for weekly, 26 for biweekly, 24 for semi-monthly, or 12 for monthly. For example, $60,000 of net pay a year is about $1,154 weekly, $2,308 biweekly, $2,500 semi-monthly, or $5,000 monthly, before any post-tax deductions such as health premiums or 401(k) contributions.

How much Social Security and Medicare tax is withheld in North Carolina?

FICA is the same in every state: Social Security is 6.2% on the first $184,500 of 2026 wages, and Medicare is 1.45% on all wages (an extra 0.9% applies above $200,000). Together that's 7.65% of pay up to the Social Security wage cap — on top of federal and any North Carolina state income tax.