North Carolina overtime is generally time-and-a-half after 40 hours in a workweek, under NC Wage and Hour Act / NC DOL overtime guidance. — Source
Minimum-wage data used for examples comes from the registry effective July 24, 2009.
North Carolina wage and hour
North Carolina Overtime Calculator
Enter daily hours and a straight-time hourly rate. The calculator applies the verified weekly threshold from the registry and adds only the extra overtime premium, so hours are not paid twice.
Who this rate applies to: State minimum wage currently $7.25/hr; tipped employees must be paid at least $2.13/hr cash wage and tips must make up the difference to $7.25.
Source The headline rate may not apply to every worker. North Carolina has worker- or employer-class exceptions in the registry. Use the hourly-rate field for the rate that applies to the worker and verify coverage before relying on the estimate.
Worked example
Weekly overtime calculation
A North Carolina employee works 45 hours at $7.25/hr\nWeekly overtime hours = 45 − 40 = 5\nOvertime premium = 5 × regular rate × 0.50
What this does not determine
- Whether a worker is exempt from overtime under state or federal law.
- Whether an industry-specific threshold, agricultural rule, residential rule, collective-bargaining agreement, or public-contract rule changes the result.
- Whether tips, commissions, bonuses, shift differentials, or multiple hourly rates were included correctly in the regular rate.
- Whether local minimum-wage ordinances or special worker classes change the straight-time rate used in the calculator.
- Penalties, wage-claim deadlines, interest, attorneys' fees, or agency filing strategy.
Sources and verification
North Carolina overtime data is read from src/data/states.json. The verified weekly threshold is 40 hours, the multiplier is 1.5×, and the source is the cited registry source. Values marked unverified in the registry render no calculator.
Common questions
Does North Carolina have its own state overtime law?
Yes. NCGS Chapter 95, Article 2A (the North Carolina Wage and Hour Act) requires time-and-a-half after 40 hours in a workweek. This mirrors the FLSA standard but gives North Carolina workers a state-law remedy and access to the North Carolina Department of Labor for enforcement — especially important for workers at smaller employers below the federal FLSA enterprise threshold.
What is the FLSA enterprise threshold and why does it matter in North Carolina?
The FLSA typically covers enterprises with annual gross volume of sales of $500,000 or more. The North Carolina Wage and Hour Act provides an independent enforcement mechanism for employers below that threshold — meaning North Carolina workers at smaller businesses may be able to file with the NCDOL even when federal FLSA coverage is uncertain.
How does North Carolina compare to Virginia and South Carolina on overtime?
Virginia has its Overtime Wages Act (VOWA) in addition to FLSA, plus a rising minimum wage schedule. North Carolina has its state Wage and Hour Act at the same 40-hour threshold. South Carolina has no wage statute at all — SC workers rely entirely on federal FLSA. North Carolina's framework is more protective than South Carolina's but less developed than Virginia's VOWA.
Where do I file an overtime complaint in North Carolina?
The North Carolina Department of Labor (labor.nc.gov/labor/wage-and-hour) enforces the state Wage and Hour Act. Workers can also file with the U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division for federal FLSA claims. North Carolina workers have both state and federal enforcement avenues.