State labor laws · NC

North Carolina labor laws for hourly teams.

Weekly overtime after 40 hours under the state Wage and Hour Act, no breaks required for anyone 16 or older, and breaks under 30 minutes must be paid.

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The rules below come from North Carolina Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Bureau, or from the federal Fair Labor Standards Act where North Carolina has no rule of its own. Each topic page shows its sources and the date we checked them.

North Carolina at a glance

North Carolina
OvertimeNorth Carolina's Wage and Hour Act requires time and a half the regular rate for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek unless the employee is exempt.
Meal and rest breaksThe North Carolina Wage and Hour Act does not require rest breaks or meal breaks for employees 16 years of age or older.

Read the full rule

Overtime

North Carolina Overtime Laws for Hourly Staff (2026)

North Carolina overtime rules under the Wage and Hour Act: time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek, no daily overtime, federal exemptions adopted, no private-sector comp time.

Meal and rest breaks

North Carolina Meal and Rest Break Laws (2026)

North Carolina requires no breaks for employees 16 and older. Youths under 16 get a 30-minute break after 5 hours. Breaks under 30 minutes must be paid.

Who enforces it

North Carolina Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Bureau. Federal overtime and hours-worked rules are enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.

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This is general information, not legal advice. Rules change; check the linked source.