North Carolina Hourly Paycheck Calculator

North Carolina payroll taxes

A typical North Carolina paycheck includes federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and North Carolina state income tax withholding. North Carolina municipalities generally do not levy employee local wage/income taxes. Employers fund North Carolina unemployment insurance (SUTA), FUTA, workers’ compensation, and maintain required posters/records. Pretax benefits—401(k)/403(b)/457(b), HSA, FSA, commuter, and Section 125 insurance premiums—can reduce taxable wages when plan-eligible.

• Employee (federal): Income tax (IRS W-4), Social Security, Medicare, and Additional Medicare for high earners.
• Employee (state): North Carolina withholding (NC-4 elections and credits).
• Local (employee): None on wages in North Carolina.
• Employer: North Carolina SUTA; FUTA; workers’ compensation; required postings and recordkeeping.
• Pretax deductions: May lower federal/state taxable wages and, when eligible, FICA.

How Your North Carolina Paycheck Works

Your net equals gross hourly wages (regular, overtime, tips, differentials, bonuses) minus pretax deductions; then minus FICA, federal income tax, and North Carolina state withholding. With no municipal wage tax, there’s no city/town withholding line. The calculator itemizes hours, rates, taxable wages, all withholdings, deductions, and final take-home.

• Inputs: Hourly rate, hours, overtime, tips, pay frequency, filing status, dependents/credits, deductions.
• Outputs: Line-by-line FICA, federal, North Carolina state, deductions, and estimated net pay.
• Supplemental wages: Compare flat vs. aggregate federal methods for bonuses/commissions.

North Carolina Income unemployment tax rate — 10 Years (Employer SUTA)

Replace placeholders with official North Carolina Division of Employment Security figures (taxable wage base, experience-rated range, new-employer rate) before publishing.

North Carolina salary threshold

North Carolina follows FLSA and state rules. Exempt status requires passing the duties tests and meeting the applicable salary-basis threshold; job titles alone don’t create exemption. Confirm state minimum wage (federal baseline), tip-credit/service-charge rules, youth wage provisions, and industry-specific standards when classifying roles and computing overtime.

Median Household Income: North Carolina — 10 Years

Insert the latest U.S. Census/ACS one-year (or five-year) estimates for North Carolina before publishing.

North Carolina Federal Insurance Contributions Act(Fica)

FICA is federal and applies in North Carolina: employees pay Social Security and Medicare; employers match both. Above a federal threshold, Additional Medicare tax is withheld from employees (no employer match). Eligible pretax benefits (e.g., Section 125 health premiums) can reduce FICA-taxable wages depending on plan rules.

Number of cities that have local income taxes

50-word description: North Carolina municipalities do not levy employee local income taxes. Paychecks reflect federal withholding, FICA, and North Carolina state income tax only. Some cities may impose business privilege or licensing taxes on employers, not workers’ wages. Multistate commuters could face other cities’ wage taxes; verify residency and worksite before estimating.

Illustrative North Carolina local wage/income tax table (verify current rules before use)

North Carolina Wage and Hour Laws: Overtime, Pay Frequency

• Overtime: Most non-exempt workers earn 1.5× the regular rate after 40 hours/week (FLSA baseline; North Carolina has no separate daily OT rule).
• Pay frequency: Employers must pay on a regular, predictable schedule (commonly biweekly or semimonthly) and provide itemized wage statements.
• Other rules: Verify tip credit, youth employment, and recordkeeping requirements; check employer policies for PTO/paid sick leave since there’s no statewide PSL mandate.

Additional North Carolina forms

• IRS Form W-4 (federal withholding elections).
• North Carolina Form NC-4 (Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate).
• Form I-9 employment eligibility verification; North Carolina new-hire reporting.
• Direct deposit authorization; benefits enrollment (401(k), HSA, FSA, insurance).
• North Carolina unemployment (employer) account registration; required workplace posters.

FAQs about the North Carolina Hourly Paycheck Calculator

How do I use the North Carolina Hourly Paycheck Calculator?

Enter hourly rate, hours, overtime, tips, pay frequency, filing status, dependents/credits, and pretax/post-tax deductions. The calculator applies FICA, federal, and North Carolina state withholding to produce a clear, line-by-line estimate of take-home pay.

Does North Carolina deduct local city taxes from paychecks?

No. North Carolina does not levy municipal wage taxes on employees. Your check reflects federal taxes, FICA, North Carolina state withholding, and your elected deductions.

Which form controls my North Carolina state withholding?

Form NC-4 controls your state withholding elections (in addition to IRS W-4 for federal). Keep dependents/credits updated to ensure accurate state withholding.

How should I enter overtime, shift differentials, tips, and bonuses?

Enter overtime using the correct multiplier (typically 1.5× after 40 hours/week). Add differentials, tips, and supplemental wages separately so the calculator recomputes federal and state withholding correctly.

Why did my North Carolina paycheck change this period?

Common reasons: variable hours/tips, overtime, bonuses (supplemental method), updated W-4/NC-4 elections, benefit changes, or annual tax-table updates. Compare current vs. prior pay stubs to pinpoint differences.

Does the calculator work for nonresidents working in North Carolina?

Yes. Choose a nonresident scenario. North Carolina state withholding generally applies to NC-sourced wages; the calculator models that treatment for estimates.

Can pretax benefits increase my take-home?

Yes. Eligible pretax deductions—401(k)/403(b)/457(b), HSA, FSA, commuter, and certain insurance—reduce taxable wages and may lower income tax and, when eligible, FICA.

How are tips treated in North Carolina paycheck calculations?

Reported tips are taxable for federal, FICA, and North Carolina state income tax. Include cash and charged tips to ensure correct withholding and compliance where tip credits apply.

How do multiple jobs affect my withholding?

Use the IRS multiple-jobs guidance on your W-4 and ensure NC-4 reflects your situation. Model each job separately to avoid under-withholding across employers.

What is Additional Medicare tax and when does it apply?

After wages exceed the federal threshold, employers must withhold Additional Medicare on the excess. There’s no employer match; it appears alongside regular Medicare on your pay stub.

Are bonuses and commissions taxed differently?

They’re supplemental wages. Employers may use a flat federal supplemental rate or aggregate with regular wages; North Carolina state withholding applies either way. Enter amounts separately to compare methods.

Can the calculator project annual take-home from my hourly rate?

Yes. Multiply typical weekly hours by 52, add expected overtime/tips/bonuses, then run the estimate with your pay frequency and deductions to view an approximate annual net total.

What do people ask on Google about the North Carolina Hourly Paycheck Calculator?

“How much is my NC paycheck after taxes?” “Why no city tax in Charlotte or Raleigh?” “How to fill NC-4?” “Do 401(k)/HSA/FSA increase net?” “How to model a bonus precisely?”

What do Reddit users commonly discuss about North Carolina paycheck estimates?

“My NC net seems low—did I set W-4/NC-4 correctly?” “Overtime vs. second job—what nets more?” “Best pretax mix to raise take-home?” “Flat supplemental vs. aggregate for bonuses?” “Weekly vs. biweekly differences?”

What do people ask on Quora regarding North Carolina hourly pay calculators?

“How to estimate take-home before accepting a job in the Triangle or Charlotte?” “Gross vs. taxable vs. net?” “How do W-4 and NC-4 interact?” “How do tips and commissions affect North Carolina taxes?”