North Carolina H353 raises the state minimum wage and requires automatic annual increases, starting at $10 per hour in 2026.

North Carolina H353, the Fair Minimum Wage Act, raises the state minimum wage incrementally, starting at $10 per hour on January 1, 2026, and increasing annually until it is indexed to the Consumer Price Index starting in 2031. Employers violating wage laws are liable for unpaid wages, overtime, and benefits, plus interest, attorneys' fees, and costs. The Commissioner of Labor must exhaust administrative remedies before initiating legal action, and the court can order the defendant to pay up to $300 in attorneys' fees if a default judgment is entered.

North Carolina H353 raises the state minimum wage and requires automatic annual increases, starting at $10 per hour in 2026.

North Carolina H353, the Fair Minimum Wage Act, raises the state minimum wage incrementally, starting at $10 per hour on January 1, 2026, and increasing annually until it is indexed to the Consumer Price Index starting in 2031. Employers violating wage laws are liable for unpaid wages, overtime, and benefits, plus interest, attorneys' fees, and costs. The Commissioner of Labor must exhaust administrative remedies before initiating legal action, and the court can order the defendant to pay up to $300 in attorneys' fees if a default judgment is entered.