Working full time at $13 an hour ($27,040 a year) in North Carolina, a single filer takes home about $23,307 a year, $1,942 a month or $11.21 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $570 North Carolina income tax.
#31 of 51for take-home at this pay
Where the money goes
Breakdown
| Yearly | Monthly | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $27,040 | $2,253 |
| Federal income tax | $1,094 | $91 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $1,676 | $140 |
| Medicare | $392 | $33 |
| North Carolina income tax | $570 | $48 |
| Take-home | $23,307 | $1,942 |
| Federal marginal rate | 10% | |
| North Carolina marginal rate | 3.99% |
Same pay in other states
Highest take-home at this pay: Alaska. Middle: South Carolina. Lowest: Oregon.
Your tax bracket at this pay
Your federal taxable income is about $10,940 (after the $16,100 standard deduction), which puts the top slice of your pay in the 10% bracket ($0 to $12,400). You have about $1,460 of room before the next dollar is taxed at 12%. Only that top slice is taxed at 10%: your average federal rate is 4.0%, and all taxes together (federal, FICA, state) take 13.8% of gross pay. A $1,000 raise would add about $784 to your take-home.
| Federal bracket | Your income in it | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| 10% on $0–$12,400 | $10,940 | $1,094 |
| Rate | Federal | Combined with state and FICA |
|---|---|---|
| Marginal (next dollar) | 10% | 21.6% |
| Effective (average) | 4.0% | 13.8% |
Compared with the North Carolina median
$27,040 is 37% of the North Carolina median household income of $72,388 (Census ACS 2020–2024 median; households can have more than one earner, so a single salary is not directly comparable).
Affordability snapshot
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Rent budget (30% of gross) | $676/mo |
| Home price at 30% of gross (10% down) | $96,000 |
| North Carolina median home value | $288,900 (Census 2020–2024) |
Rule of thumb only: housing at 30% of gross monthly pay. Home price assumes a 30-year fixed at the Freddie Mac average of 7.40% (week of 2026-10-15), 10% down, the North Carolina median effective property tax rate and about 0.35% a year for insurance. Lenders also weigh debts, credit and PMI.
401(k) and HSA effect
| Contribution | Saved | Take-home cut | Tax saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6% to a 401(k) ($1,622/yr) | $1,622 | $1,395 | $227 |
| Max HSA, self-only ($4,400, via payroll) | $4,400 | $3,448 | $952 |
Pre-tax 401(k) deferrals cut federal and North Carolina income tax but not Social Security or Medicare; payroll HSA contributions also skip FICA. 2026 limits: 401(k) $24,500 (under 50), HSA $4,400 self-only (IRS). Some states tax HSA contributions; this estimate assumes they follow federal rules.
What applies at this income
- All of your taxable income sits in the lowest 10% federal bracket.
- You are under the 2026 Roth IRA income limit for single filers ($153,000 of modified AGI), so you can contribute the full amount.
- Maxing out a 401(k) ($24,500) would take more than half your gross pay at this level, so most people here contribute a percentage instead.
North Carolina jobs that typically pay about $27,040
$27,040 is above the median pay of 1 of the 100 common occupations we track in North Carolina (BLS OEWS, May 2025). These have a North Carolina median between $0 and $28,080:
| Occupation | North Carolina median | vs this pay |
|---|---|---|
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $26,680 | −$360 |
| Fast Food Cooks | $27,190 | +$150 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,560 | +$520 |
Where $27,040 lands inside other North Carolina jobs
for 10, it is entry-level pay (10th–25th percentile).
| Occupation | Percentile | North Carolina pay at that percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Cashiers | 25th | $26,380 |
| Light Truck Drivers | 10th | $26,490 |
| Food Preparation Workers | 25th | $26,610 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | 10th | $27,110 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | 25th | $27,370 |
| General Office Clerks | 10th | $27,660 |
| Retail Salespersons | 25th | $27,720 |
| Restaurant Cooks | 10th | $27,980 |
| Dishwashers | 25th | $28,030 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | 10th | $28,050 |
Previous and next pay level
Related
- $14 an hour in North Carolina$2,077/mo
- $15 an hour in North Carolina$2,209/mo
- North Carolina income tax brackets2026
- Minimum wage in North Carolina2026
- North Carolina property taxby county
Single filer, W-2 wages only; 2026 IRS brackets and $16,100 standard deduction, FICA (Social Security to $184,500, Medicare +0.9% over $200,000) and state rules per the Tax Foundation (Jan 1, 2026). Local taxes and payroll deductions are excluded. Sources: IRS, SSA, Tax Foundation. Not tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $13 an hour after taxes in North Carolina?
Working full time at $13 an hour ($27,040 a year) in North Carolina, a single filer takes home about $23,307 a year, $1,942 a month or $11.21 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $570 North Carolina income tax.
How much is $13 an hour per month after taxes in North Carolina?
About $1,942 a month, or $896 per biweekly paycheck.
How much state tax do I pay on $13 an hour in North Carolina?
About $570 a year (marginal rate 3.99%).