North Carolina · 2026 take-home pay

$27 an hour after taxes in North Carolina

At $27 an hour in North Carolina you keep about $21.91 of every hour — $876 a week, $3,798 a month or $45,573 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.

By Work & Money Editorial Team · Last reviewed October 14, 2026

Where $27 an hour goes

$27 an hour full time in North Carolina, single filer, 2026
A yearA weekAn hour
Gross pay$56,160$1,080$27.00
Federal income tax−$4,559−$88−$2.19
Social Security (6.2%)−$3,482−$67−$1.67
Medicare (1.45%+)−$814−$16−$0.39
North Carolina income tax−$1,732−$33−$0.83
Take-home pay$45,573$876$21.91

Effective tax rate 18.9% · federal bracket 12% · North Carolina bracket 3.99%.

Take-home per paycheck

40 hours a week, different pay schedules
PaidGrossTake-home
Weekly (52 paychecks)$1,080.00$876.39
Every two weeks (26)$2,160.00$1,752.79
Twice a month (24)$2,340.00$1,898.85
Monthly (12)$4,680.00$3,797.71

Change hours, overtime and deductions

$27 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 $27 an hour for hours over 40, as federal law requires for most hourly workers.

$27 an hour in North Carolina: weekly hours and take-home, 2026
ScheduleGross a weekTake-home a weekTake-home a year
20 hours a week*$540$464$24,122
30 hours a week$810$670$34,852
40 hours a week$1,080$876$45,573
40 hours + 5 overtime$1,283$1,031$53,594
40 hours + 10 overtime$1,485$1,165$60,582

*If this is your only job. With a second job, withholding on each is likely too low unless you adjust your W-4.

Is $27 an hour good pay in North Carolina?

  • Minimum wage: $27 an hour is 3.7 times North Carolina's minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.
  • Among North Carolina workers: It's about the 57th percentile of hourly pay in North Carolina (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 57 in 100 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 $45,573 a year buys about what $48,314 would at national-average prices.
  • Rent: the 30% rule points to about $1,404 a month. Check it with your debts.
  • A 50/30/20 budget: about $1,899 a month for needs, $1,139 for wants and $760 for savings. Plan it in the budget calculator.

Jobs in North Carolina that pay about $27 an hour

Occupations whose median wage in North Carolina is within 4% of $27 an hour, most common first. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

Electricians

Median $27.31 an hour in North Carolina · 21,640 jobs

How North Carolina compares on $27 an hour

North Carolina ranks 24th of 51 for take-home pay on $27 an hour (1st = keeps the most). Here it is next to its neighbors.

Take-home on $27 an hour, 40 hours a week, single filer, 2026
StateAfter tax, per hourA yearMinimum wagevs North Carolina
North Carolina$21.91$45,573$7.25—
Georgia$21.76$45,251$7.25−$322 a year
South Carolina$22.07$45,897$7.25+$324 a year
Tennessee$22.74$47,305$7.25+$1,732 a year
Virginia$21.58$44,889$12.77−$684 a year

How the federal tax on $56,160 ($27 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $56,160 minus the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100) = $40,060. Each slice is taxed at its own rate:

2026 federal income tax by bracket, single filer
RateIncome in this bracketTax
10%$12,400$1,240
12%$27,660$3,319
Total$40,060$4,559

How the North Carolina income tax on $56,160 ($27 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $56,160 of North Carolina wages minus $12,750 standard deduction = $43,410.

North Carolina income tax by bracket, single filer, 2026 rules
RateIncome in this bracketTax
3.99%$43,410$1,732
Total$43,410$1,732

Common questions

How much is $27 an hour after taxes in North Carolina?

About $21.91 for every hour you work, or $45,573 a year at 40 hours a week ($56,160 gross). Taxes take about 18.9% of your pay, for a single filer in 2026 with no pre-tax deductions.

How much is $27 an hour a week after taxes in North Carolina?

About $876 a week at 40 hours, from $1,080 gross. Paid every two weeks, each paycheck is about $1,753.

How much is $27 an hour a month after taxes in North Carolina?

About $3,798 a month at 40 hours a week, from $4,680 gross.

Is $27 an hour good pay in North Carolina?

$27 an hour is 3.7 times North Carolina's minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. It's about the 57th percentile of hourly pay in North Carolina (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 57 in 100 workers earn less. The median hourly wage for all jobs in North Carolina is $23.06. After taxes and local prices, $45,573 a year buys about what $48,314 would at national-average prices.

Is North Carolina a high-tax state for $27 an hour?

It ranks 24th of 51 among the 50 states and D.C. for take-home on $27 an hour. The most you'd keep is $47,305 a year, in 8 places including Florida, North Dakota, New Hampshire; the least, $43,233 in Oregon.

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.

  1. Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods — Internal Revenue Service. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  2. State Minimum Wage Laws — U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  3. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  4. Regional Price Parities by State — U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Accessed October 14, 2026.