Overtime in North Carolina
In North Carolina, overtime is 1.5 times your regular rate for every hour over 40 in a workweek, under both federal and North Carolina law. There is no daily overtime.
Rules checked against the US Department of Labor and official North Carolina sources. Free and private: nothing you enter leaves your device.
Your pay this week, before tax
$1,025.00
You worked 47.5 hours in North Carolina, including 7.5 hours of overtime. Overtime adds $75.00 on top of your straight-time pay.
| Pay | Hours | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | 40 h | $20.00 | $800.00 |
| Overtime1.5 times your rate | 7.5 h | $30.00 | $225.00 |
| Total | 47.5 h | $1,025.00 |
47.5 hours worked. An estimate under federal and North Carolina law, before taxes. Not legal advice.
Overtime rules in North Carolina
- Overtime: 1.5 times your regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek.
- North Carolina's own rule mainly covers workers federal law does not. Most workers get the same 40-hour overtime under federal law.
- Seasonal amusement and recreation businesses pay overtime after 45 hours.
- Private employers cannot give comp time instead of overtime pay.
North Carolina's minimum wage is $7.25, the federal level, so overtime at the minimum wage is $10.88 an hour.
Overtime pay at common rates in North Carolina
| Hourly rate | Overtime rate | 45-hour week | 50-hour week |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20 an hour | $30.00 | $950.00 | $1,100.00 |
| $25 an hour | $37.50 | $1,187.50 | $1,375.00 |
| $30 an hour | $45.00 | $1,425.00 | $1,650.00 |
How the calculator works
- Each shift's hours are its end time minus its start time, minus your unpaid break. A shift that ends after midnight counts on the day it started. If your employer's workday starts at another time, your result can differ a little.
- Daily overtime and double time come first, where your state has them, then any seventh-day or premium-day rule.
- Weekly overtime counts only the hours not already paid at a premium. So no hour is paid twice, and you always get the greater of daily or weekly overtime.
- With two rates or a bonus, overtime is based on your regular rate for the week: all your pay divided by all your hours, as federal rules require.
The result is pay before taxes. It is an estimate of what the law requires, not legal advice. A union contract or your employer's policy can pay more.
Who does not get overtime
- Most salaried office, management and professional jobs are exempt from overtime if they pay a salary of at least $684 a week ($35,568 a year) and the job duties meet the federal tests. Being paid a salary alone does not make you exempt.
- In 2024 the Department of Labor raised that salary level, but a federal court in Texas struck the rule down on November 15, 2024. On May 15, 2026 the Department formally put the $684 level back in its rules. The highly paid employee level is $107,432 a year.
- Some states set a higher salary level or stricter tests than federal law, so check your state's rules if you are on a salary.
- Other common exemptions include outside sales jobs, some computer jobs, many farm jobs, and some workers at seasonal amusement businesses. Independent contractors are not covered, but being called a contractor does not decide it.
- Hourly workers almost always get overtime, whatever their job title.
Common questions
When does overtime start in North Carolina?
In North Carolina, overtime is 1.5 times your regular rate for every hour over 40 in a workweek, under both federal and North Carolina law. There is no daily overtime.
Does North Carolina have daily overtime?
No. North Carolina only has weekly overtime, so a 10-hour day is paid at your regular rate unless your week goes over 40 hours.
How much is overtime on $20 an hour in North Carolina?
$30.00 an hour, 1.5 times $20. A 45-hour week with 5 overtime hours pays $950.00 before tax: $800.00 for the first 40 hours and $150.00 for the overtime.
Does North Carolina require holiday or weekend pay?
No. Neither federal law nor North Carolina law requires extra pay for holidays or weekends. Your employer may pay more by policy or contract.
Sources
Official federal and state pages and laws, checked . Laws change, so confirm details on the source before you act.
- North Carolina 13 NCAC 12 .0501
- North Carolina Department of Labor: Wage and Hour Act quick reference
- US Department of Labor: State labor laws table (minimum wage and overtime) (updated November 5, 2026)
- US Department of Labor: Overtime pay
- 29 CFR 778.110: Hourly rate employee (worked examples)
- 29 CFR 778.115: Employees working at two or more rates
- 29 CFR 778.203 and 778.219: Premium pay for Sundays and holidays
- US Department of Labor: Holidays
- US Department of Labor Fact Sheet #14: Coverage under the FLSA (revised July 2009)
- Federal Register, 91 FR 27833: White-collar exemptions after the courts vacated the 2024 rule (May 15, 2026)