Cooks, Fast Food
Median $13.07 an hour in North Carolina · 81,980 jobs
North Carolina · 2026 take-home pay
$13 an hour after taxes in North Carolina
At $13 an hour in North Carolina you keep about $11.21 of every hour — $448 a week, $1,942 a month or $23,307 a year full time — after 2026 federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and North Carolina income tax. North Carolina has a flat 3.99% income tax, and its minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
Where $13 an hour goes
| A year | A week | An hour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $27,040 | $520 | $13.00 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,094 | −$21 | −$0.53 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$1,676 | −$32 | −$0.81 |
| Medicare (1.45%+) | −$392 | −$8 | −$0.19 |
| North Carolina income tax | −$570 | −$11 | −$0.27 |
| Take-home pay | $23,307 | $448 | $11.21 |
Effective tax rate 13.8% · federal bracket 10% · North Carolina bracket 3.99%.
Take-home per paycheck
| Paid | Gross | Take-home |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly (52 paychecks) | $520.00 | $448.22 |
| Every two weeks (26) | $1,040.00 | $896.43 |
| Twice a month (24) | $1,126.67 | $971.14 |
| Monthly (12) | $2,253.33 | $1,942.27 |
$13 an hour at different hours
Take-home in North Carolina for part-time, full-time and overtime weeks. Overtime is paid at 1.5 times $13 an hour for hours over 40, as federal law requires for most hourly workers.
| Schedule | Gross a week | Take-home a week | Take-home a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 hours a week* | $260 | $240 | $12,455 |
| 30 hours a week | $390 | $346 | $18,010 |
| 40 hours a week | $520 | $448 | $23,307 |
| 40 hours + 5 overtime | $618 | $523 | $27,208 |
| 40 hours + 10 overtime | $715 | $598 | $31,079 |
*If this is your only job. With a second job, withholding on each is likely too low unless you adjust your W-4.
Is $13 an hour good pay in North Carolina?
- Minimum wage: $13 an hour is 1.8 times North Carolina's minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.
- Among North Carolina workers: It's below the 10th percentile of hourly pay in North Carolina (BLS, May 2025) — fewer than about 1 in 10 workers earn less. The median is $23.06 an hour.
- Local prices: North Carolina's price level is 94.3% of the U.S. average (BEA Regional Price Parities), so $23,307 a year buys about what $24,709 would at national-average prices.
- Rent: the 30% rule points to about $676 a month. Check it with your debts.
- A 50/30/20 budget: about $971 a month for needs, $583 for wants and $388 for savings. Plan it in the budget calculator.
Jobs in North Carolina that pay about $13 an hour
Occupations whose median wage in North Carolina is within 4% of $13 an hour, most common first. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Amusement and Recreation Attendants
Median $12.83 an hour in North Carolina · 14,120 jobs
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
Median $13.25 an hour in North Carolina · 11,230 jobs
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
Median $13.13 an hour in North Carolina · 4,850 jobs
Shampooers
Median $12.51 an hour in North Carolina · 90 jobs
How North Carolina compares on $13 an hour
North Carolina ranks 30th of 51 for take-home pay on $13 an hour (1st = keeps the most). Here it is next to its neighbors.
| State | After tax, per hour | A year | Minimum wage | vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $11.21 | $23,307 | $7.25 | — |
| Georgia | $11.19 | $23,277 | $7.25 | −$30 a year |
| South Carolina | $11.36 | $23,638 | $7.25 | +$331 a year |
| Tennessee | $11.48 | $23,877 | $7.25 | +$570 a year |
| Virginia | $11.12 | $23,137 | $12.77 | −$170 a year |
How the federal tax on $27,040 ($13 an hour) is worked out
Taxable income is $27,040 minus the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100) = $10,940. Each slice is taxed at its own rate:
| Rate | Income in this bracket | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $10,940 | $1,094 |
| Total | $10,940 | $1,094 |
How the North Carolina income tax on $27,040 ($13 an hour) is worked out
Taxable income is $27,040 of North Carolina wages minus $12,750 standard deduction = $14,290.
| Rate | Income in this bracket | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| 3.99% | $14,290 | $570 |
| Total | $14,290 | $570 |
Common questions
How much is $13 an hour after taxes in North Carolina?
About $11.21 for every hour you work, or $23,307 a year at 40 hours a week ($27,040 gross). Taxes take about 13.8% of your pay, for a single filer in 2026 with no pre-tax deductions.
How much is $13 an hour a week after taxes in North Carolina?
About $448 a week at 40 hours, from $520 gross. Paid every two weeks, each paycheck is about $896.
How much is $13 an hour a month after taxes in North Carolina?
About $1,942 a month at 40 hours a week, from $2,253 gross.
Is $13 an hour good pay in North Carolina?
$13 an hour is 1.8 times North Carolina's minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. It's below the 10th percentile of hourly pay in North Carolina (BLS, May 2025) — fewer than about 1 in 10 workers earn less. The median hourly wage for all jobs in North Carolina is $23.06. After taxes and local prices, $23,307 a year buys about what $24,709 would at national-average prices.
Is North Carolina a high-tax state for $13 an hour?
It ranks 30th of 51 among the 50 states and D.C. for take-home on $13 an hour. The most you'd keep is $23,877 a year, in 9 places including Florida, North Dakota, New Hampshire; the least, $22,255 in Oregon.
More hourly rates
Other hourly rates in North Carolina
- $12 an hour in North Carolina
- $14 an hour in North Carolina
- $15 an hour in North Carolina
- $16 an hour in North Carolina
- $17 an hour in North Carolina
$13 an hour in every state · $25,000 a year in North Carolina · $30,000 a year in North Carolina · North Carolina paycheck calculator · All pay conversions
Sources and method
Our 2026 engine applies IRS Publication 15-T withholding, Social Security and Medicare, North Carolina's income tax rules (methodology). Local income taxes are not included. Minimum wages: U.S. Department of Labor. Wage distribution and jobs: BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities.
- Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods — Internal Revenue Service. Accessed October 14, 2026.
- State Minimum Wage Laws — U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Accessed October 14, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed October 14, 2026.
- Regional Price Parities by State — U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Accessed October 14, 2026.