What is the minimum wage in Charlotte?

Charlotte follows North Carolina's state minimum wage, which matches the federal floor of $7.25 per hour. North Carolina has not set a higher state minimum and does not allow cities to set their own, so $7.25/hr applies across Charlotte for most non-tipped employees.

How is overtime calculated in North Carolina?

Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, which North Carolina follows, non-exempt employees must be paid 1.5 times their regular hourly rate for every hour worked beyond 40 in a single workweek. Overtime is based on the workweek, not the day, so working more than 8 hours in a day does not by itself trigger overtime in NC.

What is the tipped minimum wage in Charlotte?

North Carolina permits a tipped cash wage of $2.13 per hour as long as the employee's tips bring total hourly earnings to at least the full $7.25 minimum. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference. This calculator flags when reported tips do not cover the gap.

Does Charlotte have its own higher minimum wage?

No. North Carolina law preempts local minimum-wage ordinances, so Charlotte cannot set a rate above the state's $7.25/hr. Some employers voluntarily pay more, but there is no city-mandated minimum higher than the state figure.

Are salaried employees entitled to overtime?

Only if they are classified as non-exempt. Many salaried roles are exempt from overtime under FLSA executive, administrative, or professional rules, but a salary alone does not make someone exempt — the job duties and a minimum salary threshold must also be met. This tool models hourly and non-exempt pay.

Charlotte Minimum Wage & Overtime Calculator

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The Charlotte Minimum Wage & Overtime Calculator turns an hourly rate and a week’s hours into accurate gross pay, applying North Carolina’s $7.25/hr minimum wage and federal time-and-a-half overtime for hours beyond 40. It also handles tipped workers, applying the $2.13 cash wage and checking that tips bring earnings up to the full minimum. It is built for hourly employees, food-service and retail workers, and small employers in the Charlotte metro who need a quick, correct paycheck estimate.

How it works

Pay splits into regular and overtime hours based on a 40-hour workweek:

regular hours  = min(hours, 40)
overtime hours = max(hours - 40, 0)
regular pay    = regular hours x rate
overtime pay   = overtime hours x rate x 1.5
gross pay      = regular pay + overtime pay

For tipped workers, North Carolina allows a cash wage as low as $2.13/hr provided tips lift total earnings to at least $7.25/hr. The tool computes cash wages plus your reported tips and the effective hourly rate. If that effective rate falls below $7.25, it shows the tip-credit shortfall the employer must legally make up. Overtime for tipped staff is calculated on the full $7.25 minimum, not the $2.13 cash wage, consistent with how the tip credit interacts with overtime.

Tips and notes

Overtime in North Carolina is based on the workweek, not the calendar day — there is no daily-overtime rule like California’s.
The minimum wage in Charlotte is the same as the statewide and federal figure: $7.25/hr. North Carolina law prevents cities from setting a higher local minimum.
If you are tipped and your reported tips do not reach the gap to $7.25/hr, your employer is required to pay the difference. Use the shortfall figure to check your stub.
Results are gross pay before taxes and withholdings; net take-home will be lower. Everything is calculated in your browser.