| Item | 2026 value |
|---|---|
| State income tax | Flat 3.99% (2025: 4.25% · 2024: 4.50% · 2023: 4.75%) |
| Withholding rate on stubs | 4.09% — the tax rate plus 0.1% built in by NCDOR (NC-30) |
| State standard deduction | $12,750 single · $25,500 married filing jointly · $19,125 head of household |
| NC-4 allowance value | $2,500 per allowance per year |
| Employee-paid SUI / SDI / PFML | None — UI is employer-only; no disability or paid-leave program |
| Local income taxes | None — one statewide rate |
| Scheduled rate cuts | 3.49% in 2027 and 2.99% in 2028 if revenue triggers are met (the May 2026 consensus revenue forecast of OSBM and the legislature's Fiscal Research Division projects they are) |
| Minimum wage | $7.25 (federal rate) · $2.13 tipped cash wage |
| Pay frequency | Daily, weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, or monthly — on a regular payday (G.S. 95-25.6) |
| Pay stub required? | Yes — itemized statement of deductions every pay period (G.S. 95-25.13(4)) |
| Final paycheck | Next regular payday — same rule whether fired or quit (G.S. 95-25.7) |
North Carolina take-home pay, 2026
North Carolina Paycheck Calculator
Free estimate of North Carolina take-home pay for 2026: hourly or salary.
Updated October 4, 2026 · 2026 rules
Your North Carolina paycheck
Estimated take-home pay, North Carolina, 2026
$1,629.11per biweekly check
$42,356.86 a year over 26 checks · $3,529.74 a month on average
- Gross pay
- $2,000.00
- Federal income tax
- 7.81%−$156.15
- Social Security
- 6.20%−$124.00
- Medicare
- 1.45%−$29.00
- North Carolina income tax
- 3.09%−$61.74
- Total deductions
- 18.54%−$370.89
- Net pay (take-home)
- 81.46%$1,629.11
Estimated take-home pay $1,629.11 per biweekly check in North Carolina, from gross pay of $2,000.00.
First stub free each year · the calculator is free, no account
An estimate from what you entered, using 2026 federal withholding, Social Security, Medicare and state income tax withholding for a standard Form W-4, plus the state’s disability or paid leave line where it has one. City, county and school district taxes are not included. Not tax advice. North Carolina pay stub generator
North Carolina salary paycheck: take-home pay after taxes
A single filer paid every two weeks, with no pre-tax deductions. Each row takes federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and North Carolina income tax off one check. A yearly salary is divided by 26 checks.
| Annual salary | Gross per check | Federal income tax | Social Security + Medicare | North Carolina income tax | Take-home per check | Take-home per year | Taken out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $1,153.85 | $54.62 | $88.27 | $27.14 | $983.82 | $25,579 | 14.74% |
| $40,000 | $1,538.46 | $100.77 | $117.69 | $42.87 | $1,277.13 | $33,205 | 16.99% |
| $50,000 | $1,923.08 | $146.92 | $147.11 | $58.60 | $1,570.45 | $40,832 | 18.34% |
| $60,000 | $2,307.69 | $193.08 | $176.54 | $74.33 | $1,863.74 | $48,457 | 19.24% |
| $75,000 | $2,884.62 | $295.00 | $220.68 | $97.92 | $2,271.02 | $59,047 | 21.27% |
| $100,000 | $3,846.15 | $506.54 | $294.23 | $137.25 | $2,908.13 | $75,611 | 24.39% |
| $150,000 | $5,769.23 | $951.31 | $441.34 | $215.90 | $4,160.68 | $108,178 | 27.88% |
North Carolina hourly paycheck after taxes
Full-time hourly pay for a single filer, with no overtime and no pre-tax deductions: 80 hours every two weeks, and the same rate on a weekly check of 40 hours. Gross pay is the rate times the hours.
| Hourly rate | Gross, 2 weeks | Federal income tax | Social Security + Medicare | North Carolina income tax | Take-home, 2 weeks | Take-home, weekly | Take-home per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $1,200.00 | $60.15 | $91.80 | $29.02 | $1,019.03 | $509.51 | $26,495 |
| $20.00 | $1,600.00 | $108.15 | $122.40 | $45.38 | $1,324.07 | $662.03 | $34,426 |
| $25.00 | $2,000.00 | $156.15 | $153.00 | $61.74 | $1,629.11 | $814.55 | $42,357 |
| $30.00 | $2,400.00 | $204.15 | $183.60 | $78.10 | $1,934.15 | $967.07 | $50,288 |
| $40.00 | $3,200.00 | $364.38 | $244.80 | $110.82 | $2,480.00 | $1,240.00 | $64,480 |
North Carolina paycheck by pay frequency
A $60,000 salary for a single filer, paid weekly, every two weeks, twice a month or monthly. The yearly total barely moves; the size of each check does.
| Pay frequency | Checks a year | Gross per check | Take-home per check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 52 | $1,153.85 | $931.88 |
| Every 2 weeks | 26 | $2,307.69 | $1,863.74 |
| Twice a month | 24 | $2,500.00 | $2,019.06 |
| Monthly | 12 | $5,000.00 | $4,038.13 |
Dollars and share of gross pay
How much is taken out of a paycheck in North Carolina?
Each line on a biweekly check at three salaries, single filer. Social Security and Medicare are fixed rates, so their share stays the same; income tax is graduated, so the share taken rises with pay.
| Line | $40,000 salary | $75,000 salary | $150,000 salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross per check | $1,538.46 | $2,884.62 | $5,769.23 |
| Federal income tax | $100.77 (6.55%) | $295.00 (10.23%) | $951.31 (16.49%) |
| Social Security | $95.38 (6.20%) | $178.85 (6.20%) | $357.69 (6.20%) |
| Medicare | $22.31 (1.45%) | $41.83 (1.45%) | $83.65 (1.45%) |
| North Carolina income tax | $42.87 (2.79%) | $97.92 (3.39%) | $215.90 (3.74%) |
| Total taken out | $261.33 (16.99%) | $613.60 (21.27%) | $1,608.55 (27.88%) |
| Take-home per check | $1,277.13 | $2,271.02 | $4,160.68 |
Your own figures: use the North Carolina calculator above.
Single or married filing jointly in North Carolina
The same salary on a biweekly check under each filing status. Social Security and Medicare do not change with filing status; income tax withholding does.
| Annual salary | Single | Married filing jointly | Difference per check |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1,277.13 | $1,347.90 | $70.77 |
| $60,000 | $1,863.74 | $1,947.59 | $83.85 |
| $100,000 | $2,908.13 | $3,120.82 | $212.69 |
North Carolina income tax and what this estimate includes
In the estimate
- Federal income tax withholding for a single or married filer with a standard Form W-4.
- Social Security and Medicare.
- North Carolina income tax withholding under the 2026 rules.
- Pre-tax 401(k) and health benefits, and overtime hours, when you enter them.
Not in the estimate
- City, county and school district taxes.
- Extra entries on Form W-4: dependents, other income, extra withholding.
- Head of household filing status.
- Tips, bonuses, after-tax deductions and garnishments.
North Carolina paycheck facts, 2026
From the North Carolina pay stub page, where each figure is explained with its source.
Same pay in a state with no income tax
$2,000.00 every two weeks for a single filer in North Carolina and in Tennessee. This compares paycheck deductions only; wages, housing and other costs differ between states.
| State | State lines per check | Take-home per check | Take-home per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $61.74 | $1,629.11 | $42,357 |
| Tennessee | $0.00 | $1,690.85 | $43,962 |
| Difference | $61.74 | $61.74 | $1,605 |
From a North Carolina estimate to a pay stub
When the pay has actually been made, “Make this a pay stub” under the calculator opens the builder with North Carolina and the same pay filled in. The builder prints the same lines and adds year-to-date totals. A pay stub is a record of a real payment: enter the real employer, employee and dates. Your first pay stub each year is free.
The North Carolina pay stub generator page covers what a North Carolina stub must show. Every state is on the paycheck calculator page.
Questions
North Carolina paycheck questions
How much is taken out of a paycheck in North Carolina?
It depends on your pay, pay frequency and filing status. As an example, a $2,000.00 biweekly check for a single filer in 2026 has $156.15 of federal income tax (7.81% of gross pay), $124.00 of Social Security and $29.00 of Medicare withheld, plus $61.74 of North Carolina income tax, leaving $1,629.11.
What percentage of my paycheck goes to taxes in North Carolina?
It depends on your pay and filing status. On a $2,000.00 biweekly check for a single filer in 2026, 18.54% of gross pay is taken out in all: federal income tax 7.81%, Social Security 6.20%, Medicare 1.45%, North Carolina income tax 3.09%. The share rises with pay, because income tax is graduated.
Does North Carolina have a state income tax on paychecks?
Yes. North Carolina taxes wages, and employers withhold North Carolina income tax from each paycheck. The calculator applies North Carolina's 2026 withholding rules for a single or married filer with one state allowance or the standard form.
How much is $60,000 after taxes in North Carolina?
About $1,863.74 per biweekly check, or $48,457 a year, after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and North Carolina income tax. That is for a single filer paid every two weeks, with a standard Form W-4 and no pre-tax deductions. Local taxes are not included.
How much is $100,000 after taxes in North Carolina?
About $2,908.13 per biweekly check, or $75,611 a year, after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and North Carolina income tax. That is for a single filer paid every two weeks, with a standard Form W-4 and no pre-tax deductions. Local taxes are not included.
How much is $20 an hour after taxes in North Carolina?
At 80 hours every two weeks, $20.00 an hour is $1,600.00 of gross pay and about $1,324.07 of take-home pay per check, after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and North Carolina income tax. That is for a single filer paid every two weeks, with a standard Form W-4 and no pre-tax deductions. Local taxes are not included.
Are there city or local income taxes in North Carolina?
Local taxes are not in the North Carolina estimate. Where a city, county or school district taxes wages, the pay stub builder looks the tax up from the address when it has the data. The North Carolina pay stub page lists the local taxes that apply in the state, with its sources.
Does the North Carolina calculator work for married filing jointly?
Yes. Choose Single or Married filing jointly; head of household is not offered.
Does the North Carolina calculator include a 401(k) or overtime?
Yes. Enter a pre-tax 401(k) amount per check and it comes off the wages that income tax is worked out on. On hourly pay, enter overtime hours and they are paid at 1.5 times the hourly rate. Tips, bonuses and dependents are not in the calculator.
What is not included in the North Carolina estimate?
City, county and school district taxes are not in the estimate. Garnishments, after-tax deductions and extra withholding from your Form W-4 are not included either.
Why is my real North Carolina paycheck different?
The estimate uses the standard withholding for your filing status. Your employer's figure follows your own Form W-4 and North Carolina withholding form, your benefits and other deductions, and any local tax. A few dollars of difference per check is normal; a large one usually comes from a W-4 entry or a deduction the calculator cannot see.
Can I make a North Carolina pay stub from this estimate?
Yes. "Make this a pay stub" opens the pay stub builder with North Carolina and the same pay already filled in, and the builder prints the same figures. A pay stub records a payment that was actually made, so enter the real employer, employee and pay dates. Your first pay stub each year is free.
Paycheck calculators for other states
- GeorgiaState income tax
- TennesseeNo state income tax
- South CarolinaState income tax
- VirginiaState income tax
- CaliforniaState income tax
- ColoradoState income tax
Browse every state paycheck calculator
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- AlaskaNo state income tax
- ArizonaState income tax
- ArkansasState income tax
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- ConnecticutState income tax
- DelawareState income tax
- District of ColumbiaState income tax2026 rule being verified
- FloridaNo state income tax
- GeorgiaState income tax
- HawaiiState income tax2026 married rule being verified
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- NebraskaState income tax
- NevadaNo state income tax
- New HampshireNo state income tax
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- New YorkState income tax
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- TexasNo state income tax
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