North Carolina Overtime Calculator
Minimum wage: $7.25/hour · Federal FLSA: 1.5× after 40 h/wk · enter your week below and see the exact split.
| Pay type | Hours | Rate | Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight time | 40.00 | $20.00/h | $800.00 |
| Overtime (1.5×) | 3.00 | $30.00/h | $90.00 |
Weekly overtime past 40 h/week only — North Carolina has no general daily overtime rule. Weekly overtime applied to 3.00 additional hour(s).
North Carolina overtime rules at a glance
| Rule | North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Minimum wage | $7.25 per hour |
| Daily overtime | No general daily threshold; weekly rules only |
| Weekly overtime | 1.5× after 40 hours |
| Double time | Not required by state law (employer policy may add it) |
| Authority | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 95-25.4 (adopts FLSA standard) |
The rules in detail
- 1.5× the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek (federal FLSA standard)
North Carolina's Wage and Hour Act copies the FLSA overtime standard: 1.5× after 40 hours in a workweek.
Enforcement: North Carolina Department of Labor.
Worked example
A Charlotte warehouse worker at $19/hour with a 44-hour week earns 4 × $28.50 overtime.
What North Carolina employers sometimes get wrong
Because the state statute tracks federal law, North Carolina claims rise and fall with FLSA exemptions — including the white-collar salary tests.
Who is entitled to overtime
Overtime rules protect “non-exempt” employees. The main federal exemptions cover executives, administrators, professionals, outside salespeople and certain computer employees — provided their duties genuinely match the exemption and they clear the salary basis test. Job titles mean nothing: an “assistant manager” who mostly runs a register is still non-exempt in the eyes of the law.
In practice, most hourly workers in North Carolina are non-exempt and must receive overtime whenever the rules above trigger. Independent contractors are not covered — but misclassifying an employee as a contractor is one of the most common wage violations.
How to file an overtime claim in North Carolina
Check your pay stubs and hours against the calculator above first. If you believe you were shorted, you can file a wage claim with North Carolina Department of Labor or a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (dol.gov/agencies/whd). The FLSA lets you recover unpaid overtime going back two years (three for willful violations), often doubled as liquidated damages.
General information, not legal advice. Verify current rules with the U.S. DOL State Overtime Requirements table and North Carolina Department of Labor.
Questions people ask
What are the overtime laws in North Carolina?
North Carolina's Wage and Hour Act copies the FLSA overtime standard: 1.5× after 40 hours in a workweek. The practical rule: Federal FLSA: 1.5× after 40 h/wk. Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 95-25.4 (adopts FLSA standard).
What is the minimum wage in North Carolina?
As of the U.S. Department of Labor's November 5, 2026 table, North Carolina's basic minimum rate is $7.25 per hour. North Carolina effectively uses the federal minimum wage of $7.25 for FLSA-covered employers.
How is overtime calculated in North Carolina?
Multiply your regular hourly rate by 1.5 for every overtime hour. For example, at $20/hour a 45-hour week pays 40 × $20 + 5 × $30 = $950.
Do salaried employees get overtime?
Sometimes. A salary alone does not remove overtime rights — the employee must also perform exempt duties and (for the federal white-collar exemptions) clear the salary threshold. If the exemption tests fail, the employee is owed overtime regardless of pay format.
Does North Carolina require overtime on weekends or holidays?
Federal FLSA rules do not require premium pay for weekends or holidays unless total weekly hours exceed the overtime threshold. Some state or employer policies may be more generous.