How North Carolina taxes your paycheck
North Carolina has a flat 3.99% income tax for tax year 2026. Before the rate applies, the calculator subtracts a standard deduction of $12,750 for single filers, $25,500 for married couples filing jointly and $19,125 for heads of household.
Traditional 401(k) contributions are excluded from North Carolina taxable wages, and Section 125 health premiums are excluded.
Figures are from NCDOR 2025 Personal Taxes Bulletin (law in effect January 1, 2026) (tax year 2026).
Take-home pay examples in North Carolina
A single filer earning $60,000 in North Carolina, paid every two weeks, takes home about $1,865.57 per paycheck, or $48,505 a year. Of the $60,000, $5,020 goes to federal income tax, $4,590 to Social Security and Medicare, and $1,885 to North Carolina income tax.
At $100,000, take-home pay is about $75,699 a year ($2,911.49 per paycheck), with $3,481 of North Carolina income tax. A married couple filing jointly on one $100,000 salary keeps about $81,737, because of the larger standard deduction. The table below shows more salaries.
Other North Carolina payroll deductions
North Carolina has no state-mandated employee payroll contribution, such as disability or paid family leave insurance, included in this calculator. Your paycheck may still show voluntary or employer-specific deductions.
Local income taxes in North Carolina
North Carolina has no local income taxes on wages.
Hourly pay in North Carolina
A full-time worker earning $20 an hour (40 hours a week, $41,600 a year) in North Carolina takes home about $1,325.17 every two weeks, or $662.59 a week on average, as a single filer. North Carolina income tax takes $1,151 of that pay a year, an effective state rate of 2.767%. Choose Hourly wage in the calculator to enter your own rate and hours.
North Carolina compared with neighboring states
On a $75,000 salary (single, no pre-tax deductions), take-home pay in North Carolina is about $59,109 a year. It is higher in Tennessee, and lower in South Carolina, Georgia and Virginia. The comparison table below shows the difference in dollars. Where you live usually decides which state taxes your wages, but people who live in one state and work in another should check both states' rules on residency and credits.
What else to know about North Carolina taxes
North Carolina’s 2026 income tax rate is 3.99%; employers withhold at 4.09%, so withholding may be slightly higher than the annual tax shown.
What this estimate does not include
Tax credits, itemized deductions, other income, overtime, bonuses and post-tax deductions are not included, and actual withholding follows your Form W-4 and North Carolina's own withholding rules. Use it as a planning estimate. For the method and the federal rules, see the main paycheck calculator.