Use this free North Carolina paycheck calculator to see your 2026 take-home pay from a salary or an hourly wage. It shows every deduction: federal income tax, the flat 3.99% North Carolina income tax, Social Security and Medicare, per paycheck and per year, for Charlotte, Raleigh and everywhere else in the state.
How North Carolina Paycheck Taxes Work: 2026 Guide
Updated for 2026. North Carolina's flat income tax rate fell from 4.25% to 3.99% for 2026, and employers withhold at 4.09%. The standard deduction stays at $12,750 for single filers and $25,500 for married couples filing jointly. A law signed in July 2026 cuts the rate again to 3.49% from 2027. Every figure on this page comes from the North Carolina Department of Revenue, the IRS or SSA.
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How your North Carolina paycheck is calculated
North Carolina has one flat state income tax and no local income tax or state payroll programs. Your employer starts with your gross pay, removes pre-tax benefits, withholds federal and North Carolina taxes, takes after-tax deductions and pays you the rest.
- Gross paySalary, or hours × rate, plus overtime, bonuses and tips
- Pre-tax deductions401(k), health premiums, HSA, FSA, commuter benefits
- TaxesFederal income tax, 3.99% NC tax, Social Security and Medicare
- After-tax deductionsRoth 401(k), union dues, garnishments
- Net payThe take-home amount paid to you
What is taken out of a North Carolina paycheck in 2026
| Deduction | 2026 rate | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | 10% to 37% by bracket | Taxable wages after the federal standard deduction |
| North Carolina income tax | 3.99% flat (withheld at 4.09%) | Federal adjusted gross income minus the NC standard deduction and child deduction |
| Social Security | 6.2% | Wages up to $184,500 |
| Medicare | 1.45%, plus 0.9% over $200,000 | All wages |
| Local income tax | None | No North Carolina city or county taxes wages |
| State disability, paid leave or unemployment | None | Paid by employers only |
North Carolina income tax rate and standard deduction
North Carolina has taxed income at a single flat rate since 2014, and the rate has fallen almost every year since. For 2026 it is 3.99%, down from 4.25% in 2025 (NC Department of Revenue). Senate Bill 257, signed on July 7, 2026, sets the rate at 3.49% for 2027 to 2029, 3.24% for 2030 to 2032 and 2.99% from 2033 (EY).
| Filing status | NC standard deduction | Federal standard deduction (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Single or married filing separately | $12,750 | $16,100 |
| Head of household | $19,125 | $24,150 |
| Married filing jointly or surviving spouse | $25,500 | $32,200 |
North Carolina starts from your federal adjusted gross income, so 401(k) contributions, health premiums, HSA and FSA contributions lower your state tax too. There is no personal exemption and no extra deduction for age. A single filer earning $100,000 has $87,250 of North Carolina taxable income and pays 3.99% of it, or $3,481, about 3.5% of gross pay. Under the 2025 rate the same salary paid $3,708, so the rate cut is worth about $227 a year.
The North Carolina child deduction
Instead of a child credit, North Carolina gives a deduction for each child who qualifies for the federal Child Tax Credit. It is worth up to $3,000 per child and shrinks as income rises (NC Department of Revenue):
| Deduction per child | Married filing jointly (AGI) | Head of household (AGI) | Single or married filing separately (AGI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3,000 | Up to $40,000 | Up to $30,000 | Up to $20,000 |
| $2,500 | $40,001 to $60,000 | $30,001 to $45,000 | $20,001 to $30,000 |
| $2,000 | $60,001 to $80,000 | $45,001 to $60,000 | $30,001 to $40,000 |
| $1,500 | $80,001 to $100,000 | $60,001 to $75,000 | $40,001 to $50,000 |
| $1,000 | $100,001 to $120,000 | $75,001 to $90,000 | $50,001 to $60,000 |
| $500 | $120,001 to $140,000 | $90,001 to $105,000 | $60,001 to $70,000 |
| $0 | Over $140,000 | Over $105,000 | Over $70,000 |
The calculator applies it automatically when you enter children under 17. Because the deduction steps down at each income level, a small raise that crosses a step can briefly push your combined marginal rate higher.
Federal taxes on every North Carolina paycheck
Federal income tax depends on your income, filing status and the choices on your W-4. For 2026 the brackets run from 10% to 37%, and the standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for joint filers and $24,150 for heads of household (IRS).
- Social Security: 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 in 2026, a maximum of $11,439 (SSA).
- Medicare: 1.45% of all wages. Employers also withhold an extra 0.9% on wages above $200,000 in a year.
Take-home pay examples in North Carolina for 2026
These results come from the calculator above for a single filer paid monthly, with no pre-tax deductions:
| Salary | Federal tax | NC tax | Social Security + Medicare | Take-home per year | Per month | Total tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $3,820 | $1,486 | $3,825 | $40,869 | $3,406 | 18.3% |
| $60,000 | $5,020 | $1,885 | $4,590 | $48,505 | $4,042 | 19.2% |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $2,484 | $5,738 | $59,109 | $4,926 | 21.2% |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $3,481 | $7,650 | $75,699 | $6,308 | 24.3% |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $5,476 | $11,475 | $108,315 | $9,026 | 27.8% |
| $200,000 | $36,734 | $7,471 | $14,339 | $141,456 | $11,788 | 29.3% |
A married couple filing jointly on $150,000 of combined pay takes home about $118,217 a year (21.2% in total taxes). With two children under 17, a couple earning $100,000 takes home about $86,257, helped by a $3,000 NC child deduction. An hourly worker on $25 an hour, 40 hours a week, earns $52,000 and takes home about $42,396 a year, or $3,533 a month.
Where a $75,000 North Carolina salary goes in 2026
Single filer, no pre-tax deductions, yearly amounts
Source: Digicalcy calculation using 2026 IRS, SSA and NC Department of Revenue rates.
North Carolina take-home pay compared with other states
Take-home pay on a $100,000 salary in 2026
Single filer, no pre-tax deductions, yearly amounts
Figures from our Florida, Georgia, Illinois and New York paycheck calculators.
Paychecks in Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro
No North Carolina city or county taxes wages, so the same salary gives the same take-home pay in Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham and anywhere else in the state. What differs is pay levels and living costs, including county sales taxes added to the 4.75% state rate.
How bonuses, overtime and tips are taxed in North Carolina
- Bonuses: Employers usually withhold a flat 22% federal tax and a flat 4.09% North Carolina tax on bonuses in 2026, plus Social Security and Medicare. Your real tax is settled when you file. On a $100,000 salary you keep about $6,636 of a $10,000 bonus. See the bonus tax calculator.
- Overtime: North Carolina pays 1.5 times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. Overtime is taxed as ordinary wages. See the overtime calculator.
- Tips and the new federal deductions: The federal deductions for qualified tips (up to $25,000) and the overtime premium (up to $12,500, or $25,000 for joint filers) cover 2025 to 2028. North Carolina has not adopted them (Carolina Journal), so tips and overtime are fully taxed by the state.
How pre-tax deductions lower your North Carolina taxes
| Deduction | Federal income tax | NC income tax | Social Security and Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional 401(k), 403(b), 457 | Lowers | Lowers | No change |
| Health, dental and vision premiums | Lowers | Lowers | Lowers |
| HSA through payroll | Lowers | Lowers | Lowers |
| Health and dependent care FSA | Lowers | Lowers | Lowers |
| Transit and parking benefits | Lowers | Lowers | Lowers |
A $10,000 401(k) contribution on a $100,000 North Carolina salary
Single filer, 2026, yearly amounts
The contribution saves $2,599 in income tax, so take-home pay falls by only $7,401.
Salary or hourly pay in North Carolina
For hourly pay, multiply your rate by your weekly hours and by 52. A full-time year is 2,080 hours. North Carolina's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, the same as the federal rate, which is $15,080 a year full time. A single full-time worker on the minimum wage takes home about $13,833. Salaried employees exempt from overtime must generally earn at least $684 a week under federal law. When you leave a job, your final pay is due by the next regular payday.
Why your actual paycheck may differ from this estimate
- This calculator estimates your tax for the full year. Employers withhold using the IRS and North Carolina withholding tables and your W-4 and NC-4, so each check can be a little higher or lower.
- North Carolina withholds at 4.09% for 2026, slightly more than the 3.99% you owe, so most workers get a small refund.
- The NC child deduction depends on your total income for the year, which your employer does not know.
- Social Security stops once your wages pass $184,500, so late-year paychecks of high earners are larger.
How to increase your take-home pay in North Carolina
- Check your federal withholding with the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator and update your W-4 and NC-4 after a raise, a new job or a change in your family.
- Use pre-tax benefits such as a 401(k), HSA, FSA and commuter benefits. Each dollar saves federal tax and 3.99% North Carolina tax.
- If your income is near a child deduction step, a pre-tax contribution can keep you on the lower step and raise your deduction.
How this calculator works
The calculator estimates your full-year tax and divides it by your pay periods. It uses the 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (Rev. Proc. 2025-32, including the 2025 tax law changes), the 2026 North Carolina rate of 3.99% on federal adjusted gross income less the NC standard or itemized deduction and the NC child deduction, and the 2026 Social Security wage base. For joint filers, enter combined household wages. Results are estimates, not tax advice.
Last reviewed: October 28, 2026.
North Carolina Paycheck Calculator FAQs
How much is $100,000 after taxes in North Carolina?
A single filer earning $100,000 in North Carolina takes home about $75,699 a year in 2026, or $6,308 a month. That is after $13,170 federal income tax, $3,481 North Carolina income tax and $7,650 Social Security and Medicare, with no pre-tax deductions.
What percentage of my paycheck goes to taxes in North Carolina?
For a single filer in 2026, total taxes take about 18.3% of a $50,000 salary, 21.2% of $75,000, 24.3% of $100,000 and 27.8% of $150,000. That includes federal and North Carolina income tax, Social Security and Medicare.
What is the North Carolina state income tax rate?
North Carolina has a flat income tax of 3.99% for 2026, down from 4.25% in 2025. Employers withhold at 4.09%. A law signed in July 2026 lowers the rate to 3.49% from 2027 and to 2.99% by 2033.
How much is $60,000 after taxes in North Carolina?
A single filer earning $60,000 in North Carolina takes home about $48,505 a year in 2026, or $4,042 a month, after $5,020 federal tax, $1,885 North Carolina tax and $4,590 Social Security and Medicare.
What is the North Carolina standard deduction for 2026?
The North Carolina standard deduction is $12,750 for single filers and married filing separately, $19,125 for heads of household and $25,500 for married couples filing jointly. North Carolina has no personal exemption.
Do Charlotte or Raleigh have a city income tax?
No. No North Carolina city or county taxes wages, so the same salary gives the same take-home pay in Charlotte, Raleigh and anywhere else in North Carolina.
Is a North Carolina salary calculator the same as a paycheck calculator?
For North Carolina take-home pay, yes. Both estimate how much of your pay you keep after taxes and deductions. This calculator works for salaried and hourly workers and shows results per paycheck and per year.
What is the minimum wage in North Carolina in 2026?
North Carolina's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, the same as the federal minimum, or $15,080 a year full time. Tipped workers can be paid $2.13 an hour in cash wages if tips bring them up to $7.25.
How is overtime paid in North Carolina?
Most hourly workers get 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. Overtime is taxed as ordinary wages, and North Carolina has not adopted the federal overtime or tips deductions.
More paycheck and tax calculators
- Georgia Paycheck Calculator: take-home pay with the 4.99% flat tax
- Florida Paycheck Calculator: take-home pay with no state income tax
- Texas Paycheck Calculator: take-home pay with no state income tax
- New York Paycheck Calculator: take-home pay with state tax, SDI and Paid Family Leave
- Overtime Calculator: time and a half pay
- Bonus Tax Calculator: how much of a bonus you keep
- Federal Tax Withholding Calculator: check your W-4