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North Carolina Paycheck Calculator 2026

Estimate your 2026 North Carolina take-home pay from salary or hourly wages. This calculator applies the 4.09% state withholding rate with your Form NC-4 filing status and allowances, rounds to the whole dollar the way employers must, and handles federal W-4 withholding, Social Security, Medicare and pre-tax deductions. North Carolina tax shows up as state withholding (SIT) on your pay stub.

Written by Rachel Brooks, Tax Forms and W-2 Content Specialist. Updated September 25, 2026. Every example is checked by hand against the 2026 NC-30 formula.

Calculate Take-Home Pay NC Payroll Guide
Gross pay$2,307.69
Pay frequencyBiweekly
Taxes & deductionsCurrent
Federal income tax$193.08
Social Security$143.08
Medicare$33.46
North Carolina income tax$74.00
Estimated net pay$1,864.07

Example: $60,000 salary, paid biweekly, federal Single, NC-4 single with 0 allowances, no voluntary deductions. Use the calculator below for your own numbers.

2026 NC-30 method4.09% with NC-4 status and allowances
Federal W-4 + FICA2026 brackets, $184,500 wage base
Salary or hourlyWeekly, biweekly, semimonthly and monthly pay

North Carolina Paycheck Calculator

Pay details
Pay details
Pay type
$
Federal Form W-4
Federal Form W-4
$
$
$
$

Need the form itself? Use our Form W-4 generator.

North Carolina Form NC-4
North Carolina Form NC-4
$

Withholding subtracts $12,750 a year ($19,125 head of household) and $2,500 per allowance, applies 4.09% and rounds to the nearest dollar. No NC-4 on file? Your employer withholds as single with 0 allowances.

Deductions
Deductions
$
$
$
Advanced payroll fields
$
$
2026 calculation methodology

Federal withholding uses the 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction for your Form W-4 filing status, with Step 2(c), Step 3 and Step 4 inputs. North Carolina withholding follows the 2026 NC-30 formula: annualized wages minus $12,750 ($19,125 head of household) and $2,500 per NC-4 allowance, times 4.09%, divided by pay periods and rounded to the nearest dollar, plus any extra amount. Social Security is 6.2% up to $184,500 and Medicare is 1.45%, plus 0.9% above $200,000. See the worked example and test cases below.

What You Should Know About North Carolina Paychecks

North Carolina has a flat income tax, and it's been dropping every year. The 2026 rate is 3.99%, but employers withhold at 4.09% so most people don't owe at filing time. On a $60,000 salary filing single, that's $74 from each biweekly paycheck.

Your employer uses Form NC-4, not your federal W-4. Withholding subtracts a $12,750 standard deduction ($19,125 head of household) and $2,500 for each NC-4 allowance, and the result is rounded to the whole dollar.

There are no city or county income taxes and no state disability or paid leave deductions, so federal tax, FICA and North Carolina tax are the only taxes on your stub. The minimum wage is the federal $7.25.

4.09% 2026 withholding rate

The tax rate itself is 3.99%.

$74 NC tax at $60,000

Per biweekly paycheck, single.

$2,500 Per NC-4 allowance

About $4 less tax per biweekly check.

North Carolina Paycheck Taxes at a Glance

Here's everything that comes out of a North Carolina paycheck in 2026 and which payroll taxes the employer pays instead. For more on the federal lines, see our FICA tax guide.

North Carolina employee paycheck items in 2026
Paycheck item 2026 treatment Employee deduction?
Federal income taxBased on wages, pay frequency and Form W-4Yes
Social Security6.2% up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500Yes
Medicare1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% Additional Medicare above $200,000Yes
North Carolina income tax4.09% withholding after $12,750 ($19,125 head of household) and $2,500 per NC-4 allowanceYes
City or county income taxNone in North CarolinaNo
State disability or paid leaveNone in North CarolinaNo
Unemployment insuranceEmployer-paid on the first $34,200 of each employee's wagesNo

2026 North Carolina Withholding Formula

North Carolina uses one flat formula for every salary. These are the 2026 NC-30 amounts your employer's payroll system applies.

2026 North Carolina withholding amounts by NC-4 filing status
NC-4 filing status Annual standard deduction Per allowance Withholding rate
Single or married filing separately$12,750$2,5004.09%
Married filing jointly or surviving spouse$12,750$2,5004.09%
Head of household$19,125$2,5004.09%
Bonuses and other supplemental payNoneNone4.09% flat
Why married gets $12,750, not $25,500: On a tax return a married couple filing jointly gets a $25,500 standard deduction. For withholding, North Carolina gives each spouse's paycheck half of that, so two working spouses together get the full amount. If only one of you works, claiming allowances on the NC-4 worksheet keeps you from overwithholding.

Form NC-4: How Your Choices Change Your Paycheck

North Carolina doesn't use your federal W-4. Your employer needs Form NC-4 (or the shorter NC-4 EZ). Here's what each choice does to a $60,000 biweekly paycheck.

Effect of NC-4 choices on North Carolina withholding, $60,000 salary, biweekly (2026)
NC-4 choice North Carolina tax Take-home pay
Single, 0 allowances$74.00$1,864.07
Single, 1 allowance$70.00$1,868.07
Single, 2 allowances$66.00$1,872.07
Head of household, 0 allowances$64.00$1,874.07
Married filing jointly, 0 allowances$74.00$1,864.07
Single, plus $10 extra$84.00$1,854.07
Exempt from withholding$0.00$1,938.07
How to read this: Each allowance is worth $2,500 a year, which at 4.09% is $102.25 a year or about $4 a paycheck. The NC-4 worksheet gives allowances for children, large itemized deductions and credits. Married filing jointly shows the same tax here because the withholding deduction is $12,750 for both statuses; the federal side is where married status changes this paycheck.

What North Carolina Withholding Costs by Salary

Withholding for a single filer with no allowances, biweekly pay, next to the 3.99% tax on the same wages. The last column is roughly what the extra 0.1 point adds up to by April.

North Carolina withholding compared with 2026 tax, by salary
Salary NC tax per paycheck Withheld per year Share of gross 3.99% tax on the same wages Likely overwithheld
$30,000$27$7022.34%$688$14
$40,000$43$1,1182.79%$1,087$31
$50,000$59$1,5343.07%$1,486$48
$60,000$74$1,9243.21%$1,885$39
$75,000$98$2,5483.40%$2,484$64
$100,000$137$3,5623.56%$3,481$81
$120,000$169$4,3943.66%$4,279$115
$150,000$216$5,6163.74%$5,476$140
Before you count on a refund: The tax column assumes a single filer with only wage income, the standard deduction and no credits or child deduction. Other income, itemized deductions or the North Carolina child deduction change the real number. The pattern holds, though: at 4.09% withholding, most single filers get a small North Carolina refund.

North Carolina Paycheck Tax Compared With Nearby States

The same $60,000 biweekly paycheck, filing single, run through our other state calculators with their default settings.

State income tax on a $60,000 salary, biweekly, single (2026)
State State tax per paycheck Per year
Virginia (1 exemption)$101.38$2,636
Georgia (0 allowances)$86.37$2,246
North Carolina (0 allowances)$74.00$1,924
Tennessee (no wage tax)$0.00$0
Keep the whole picture in mind: North Carolina takes less than Virginia or Georgia at this salary, and its rate keeps falling under current law. Tennessee has no wage tax but raises more through sales tax. Federal tax and FICA are the same in every state.

North Carolina Salary Calculator: Take-Home Pay Examples for 2026

Biweekly pay with no pre-tax deductions. Single filers use federal Single and NC-4 single; married filers use Married Filing Jointly and NC-4 married filing jointly, both with 0 allowances. To convert pay first, use our salary to hourly calculator, or model a raise with the pay raise calculator.

North Carolina take-home pay by annual salary (biweekly, 2026)
Annual salary Single annual net Single avg. monthly net Married annual net Married avg. monthly net
$30,000$25,583$2,132$27,003$2,250
$40,000$33,202$2,767$35,042$2,920
$50,000$40,821$3,402$42,861$3,572
$60,000$48,466$4,039$50,646$4,220
$75,000$59,044$4,920$62,074$5,173
$100,000$75,618$6,301$81,148$6,762
$120,000$88,856$7,405$96,386$8,032
$150,000$108,175$9,015$117,569$9,797

How to Calculate Your North Carolina Paycheck

A North Carolina paycheck goes from gross pay to take-home pay in four steps. The state step is one flat formula, which this calculator runs for you.

1

Calculate gross pay

Divide salary by pay periods, or multiply the hourly rate by regular hours and add overtime at 1.5 times the rate after 40 hours in a week.

4

Calculate North Carolina tax

Annualize wages, subtract $12,750 ($19,125 head of household) and $2,500 per NC-4 allowance, multiply by 4.09%, divide by pay periods and round to the nearest dollar.

North Carolina Withholding Worked Example: $60,000 Salary, Biweekly

Here's the 2026 NC-30 method run by hand for the paycheck at the top of this page: a $60,000 salary, NC-4 single with 0 allowances, biweekly pay and no pre-tax deductions.

Step-by-step 2026 North Carolina withholding on a $60,000 biweekly salary
Step Calculation Result
1. Annualize wages$2,307.69 times 26$59,999.94
2. Subtract the standard deduction$59,999.94 minus $12,750$47,249.94
3. Subtract allowances0 times $2,500$47,249.94
4. Apply the rate$47,249.94 times 4.09%$1,932.52 per year
5. Divide by pay periods$1,932.52 divided by 26$74.33
6. Round to the nearest dollarAs the NC-30 instructions require$74.00
What it means for take-home pay: Gross pay of $2,307.69 minus $193.08 federal income tax, $143.08 Social Security, $33.46 Medicare and $74.00 North Carolina tax leaves $1,864.07.

North Carolina Minimum Wage and Overtime in 2026

North Carolina's Wage and Hour Act sets the state minimum at the federal rate. Many employers pay more, so the table also shows a $15 job.

North Carolina minimum wage and pay rules
Rule Amount or requirement What it means for a paycheck
Minimum wage$7.25 an hour$290 weekly gross at 40 hours; $2 North Carolina tax; $265.81 take-home
Tipped employees$2.13 an hour cash wageTips must bring pay to at least $7.25
$15 an hour example40 hours a week$600 weekly gross; $15 North Carolina tax; $509.02 take-home
Overtime1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours a weekEnter overtime hours in hourly mode
Overtime example: $20 an hour for 80 regular and 10 overtime hours is $1,900 gross. North Carolina withholding is $58 and take-home pay is $1,552.50. To total a week of punches first, use our time card calculator with overtime.

For more on how deductions change taxable wages, see our pre-tax vs. post-tax deductions guide.

North Carolina Paycheck Tax Calculator: How NC Withholding Works

A North Carolina paycheck calculator is simpler than most because there's one flat rate and no local tax. On your pay stub you'll see it as NC SIT or NC state withholding. Our pay stub abbreviations list explains the other codes.

Federal Withholding for North Carolina Paychecks

Federal withholding uses your Form W-4 and the 2026 federal brackets. The calculator supports filing status, Step 2(c), Step 3 credits and Step 4(a), 4(b) and 4(c). If you claim the new overtime or tips deductions, our W-4 Step 4(b) worksheet guide shows how to enter them, and our 2026 federal tax withholding guide covers the rest.

Working Across State Lines

North Carolina has no reciprocal agreements. If you live in Virginia or South Carolina and work in North Carolina, your employer withholds North Carolina tax and you claim a credit at home. If you live in North Carolina and work across the line, the other state withholds and you claim the credit on your North Carolina return. People who commute to Tennessee still owe North Carolina tax because Tennessee doesn't tax wages.

Bonuses

When a bonus is paid separately, North Carolina withholds a flat 4.09%. Federal withholding (usually a flat 22%) and FICA apply too. See why bonuses are taxed so high.

Employer Payroll Costs in North Carolina

Employers pay state unemployment insurance on the first $34,200 of each employee's 2026 wages, and new employers usually start at 1%. None of it comes out of your pay. At year-end, our W-2 form generator can use the same wage and withholding totals.

Why Your Actual North Carolina Paycheck May Differ

This calculator is a close estimate, not your employer's payroll run. Your NC-4 on file, whether your employer uses the wage bracket tables instead of the formula, benefit elections and a 27th biweekly payday in some years can all move the result a little. Three-paycheck months change monthly cash flow but not the tax on each check. For a full checklist, see why your paycheck is lower than expected.

Official 2026 North Carolina Payroll Sources

Payroll facts on this page are checked against the 2026 NC-30 withholding tables and instructions, the NC Division of Employment Security employer FAQs and IRS Publication 15-T for 2026. Reviewed September 25, 2026.

North Carolina Paycheck Calculator by Pay Frequency

This page also works as a weekly, biweekly, semimonthly or monthly North Carolina payroll calculator. The annual salary stays the same, but gross pay and withholding on each check change with the number of pay periods. See our pay period guide for how the schedules differ.

52Weekly$932.04 net
26Biweekly$1,864.07 net
24Semimonthly$2,018.58 net
12Monthly$4,038.17 net
1Annual$48,466 net
Figures use a $60,000 salary, federal Single, NC-4 single with 0 allowances and no voluntary deductions. North Carolina tax is $37 weekly, $74 biweekly, $81 semimonthly and $161 monthly. Because each check rounds to the dollar, the yearly total differs by up to about $20 between schedules.

How We Test This North Carolina Paycheck Calculator

Every scenario below was run through the calculator on this page on September 25, 2026 and checked by hand against the 2026 NC-30 formula. Scenarios are biweekly unless noted.

North Carolina paycheck test cases, checked September 25, 2026 (per paycheck)
Scenario Gross pay Federal income tax North Carolina tax Take-home pay
$30,000, single, 0 allowances$1,153.85$54.62$27.00$983.96
$60,000, single, 0 allowances$2,307.69$193.08$74.00$1,864.07
$60,000, single, 2 allowances$2,307.69$193.08$66.00$1,872.07
$60,000, NC-4 head of household$2,307.69$193.08$64.00$1,874.07
$60,000, single, $10 extra$2,307.69$193.08$84.00$1,854.07
$60,000, exempt from NC withholding$2,307.69$193.08$0.00$1,938.07
$60,000, $150 401(k)$2,307.69$175.08$68.00$1,738.07
$60,000, $100 Section 125$2,307.69$181.08$70.00$1,787.72
$60,000, Married Filing Jointly, NC-4 married$2,307.69$109.23$74.00$1,947.92
$45,000, Head of Household, $2,200 W-4 credit, 2 allowances$1,730.77$0.00$33.00$1,565.36
$60,000, weekly$1,153.85$96.54$37.00$932.04
$60,000, semimonthly$2,500.00$209.17$81.00$2,018.58
$60,000, monthly$5,000.00$418.33$161.00$4,038.17
$100,000, single$3,846.15$506.54$137.00$2,908.38
$150,000, single$5,769.23$951.31$216.00$4,160.58
$20 an hour, 80 hours plus 10 overtime$1,900.00$144.15$58.00$1,552.50
$7.25 an hour, 40 hours, weekly$290.00$0.00$2.00$265.81
Update log: September 25, 2026: rewrote this page and fixed the calculator. The old version treated North Carolina as a state with no income tax and showed $0 state withholding, so it overstated take-home pay by $74 per paycheck at $60,000. The calculator now runs the 2026 NC-30 formula with NC-4 filing status, allowances, extra withholding and whole-dollar rounding. We added the withholding formula, an NC-4 comparison, a withholding versus tax table, a state comparison, a worked example and the test cases above. We re-check this page whenever North Carolina or the IRS publishes new tables, and at least once a year each January.

2026 Tax Data This Calculator Uses

Here's every rate and limit behind the numbers on this page and where it comes from, so you can check them yourself.

Tax rates and limits used by the North Carolina paycheck calculator
Item 2026 value used Source
Federal income tax withholding2026 brackets and standard deductions for Form W-4IRS Publication 15-T (2026)
Social Security6.2% up to $184,500 in wagesSocial Security Administration
Medicare1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% above $200,000IRS Publication 15 (2026)
North Carolina withholding4.09%; $12,750 or $19,125 deduction; $2,500 per allowance; whole-dollar rounding; 4.09% supplementalNC-30 (2026)
North Carolina tax rate3.99% for tax year 2026NC Department of Revenue
Unemployment wage base$34,200 (employer-paid)NC Division of Employment Security
Spotted something that looks wrong? Tell us through the editorial contact form with the inputs you used, and we'll re-check the calculation. This page is written by Rachel Brooks and follows the research and review process on our editorial team page. ePayStubs isn't affiliated with the IRS or the State of North Carolina.

North Carolina Paycheck Calculator FAQ

Does North Carolina have a state income tax?
Yes. North Carolina has a flat income tax of 3.99% for 2026, and employers withhold at 4.09%. There are no city or county income taxes in North Carolina.
How much tax is taken out of a North Carolina paycheck?
On a $60,000 salary paid biweekly, filing single with no NC-4 allowances, $443.62 comes out of each $2,307.69 paycheck: $193.08 federal income tax, $143.08 Social Security, $33.46 Medicare and $74 North Carolina income tax. That leaves $1,864.07.
Why is North Carolina withholding 4.09% when the tax rate is 3.99%?
The Department of Revenue sets the 2026 withholding rate 0.1 point above the tax rate to help keep people from owing at filing time. On a $60,000 salary filing single, withholding comes to $1,924 for the year while the 3.99% tax on the same wages is about $1,885, so you'd get roughly $39 back if you have no other income or credits.
How do NC-4 allowances work?
Each allowance on Form NC-4 removes $2,500 a year from your wages before the 4.09% withholding rate applies. That's about $4 less North Carolina tax per biweekly paycheck for each allowance. Without an NC-4 on file, your employer withholds as single with no allowances.
What is the North Carolina standard deduction for withholding?
For 2026 withholding, employers subtract $12,750 a year for single, married filing separately and married filing jointly, and $19,125 for head of household. Married couples each get $12,750 on their own paychecks.
Why is my North Carolina tax a whole dollar amount?
The NC-30 instructions tell employers to round North Carolina withholding to the nearest whole dollar. That's why a $60,000 biweekly paycheck shows $74 instead of $74.33.
How are bonuses taxed in North Carolina?
North Carolina withholds a flat 4.09% on bonuses and other supplemental pay when they're paid separately. Federal withholding, usually a flat 22%, and FICA apply too.
What is North Carolina's minimum wage in 2026?
North Carolina follows the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Tipped employees can be paid $2.13 an hour if tips bring them to $7.25. Overtime is 1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours a week.
Are 401(k) contributions pre-tax in North Carolina?
Yes. Traditional 401(k) and Section 125 deductions lower North Carolina taxable wages. A $150 biweekly 401(k) contribution on a $60,000 salary cuts North Carolina withholding from $74 to $68.
Do I pay North Carolina tax if I live in South Carolina or Virginia?
Yes, if you work in North Carolina. North Carolina has no reciprocal agreements, so your employer withholds North Carolina tax and you claim a credit on your home state return. North Carolina residents who work in another state claim a credit on their North Carolina return.
How do I calculate take-home pay in North Carolina?
Start with gross pay and subtract pre-tax deductions. Figure federal withholding and FICA. Then annualize North Carolina wages, subtract $12,750 ($19,125 head of household) and $2,500 per NC-4 allowance, multiply by 4.09%, divide by pay periods and round to the nearest dollar. Subtract post-tax deductions to get take-home pay.

North Carolina Payroll Resources

North Carolina Paystub Generator

Create a North Carolina pay stub with federal tax, FICA and NC state withholding.

Form W-4 Generator

Prepare the federal withholding form behind your paycheck calculation.

W-2 Form Generator

Create a W-2 from year-end wage and withholding totals.

Helpful Guides

SIT or SWT on a Pay StubState withholding explained Gross Pay vs Net PayUnderstand the difference FICA Tax ExplainedSocial Security and Medicare Pre-Tax vs Post-TaxHow deductions change take-home pay

Ready to put your North Carolina numbers on a pay stub?

Use the same gross pay, federal tax, FICA, North Carolina withholding and deduction details with our paystub generator to create a North Carolina pay stub.

Build My NC Pay Stub

Written by: Rachel Brooks, Tax Forms and W-2 Content Specialist. Last updated: September 25, 2026. Checked against the 2026 NC-30, NC Division of Employment Security guidance and IRS Publication 15-T (2026).

Disclaimer: Estimates are for educational use and aren't tax or legal advice. Actual payroll withholding depends on the employee's Form W-4, Form NC-4, year-to-date wages, benefits, deductions and employer payroll system. For more North Carolina payroll details, see our North Carolina Payroll Guide.

Official sources: NC-30 (2026) · NC DES employer FAQs · IRS Publication 15-T (2026). Reviewed September 25, 2026.

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