Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Meter Readers, Utilities actually take home in North Carolina?
4.5% flat rate — 19.4% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Meter Readers, Utilities earning $41,830 in North Carolina (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $41,830 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$3,035 | 7.3% |
| North Carolina State Income Tax | -$1,882 | 4.5% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$2,593 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$606 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$8,117 | 19.4% |
| Take-Home Pay | $33,712 | 80.6% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Meter Readers, Utilities in North Carolina.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $33,730 | -$6,161 | $27,568 | 18.3% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $37,380 | -$7,043 | $30,336 | 18.8% |
| Median (P50) | $41,830 | -$8,117 | $33,712 | 19.4% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $47,220 | -$9,419 | $37,800 | 19.9% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $62,200 | -$13,082 | $49,117 | 21.0% |
After federal income tax ($3,035), state tax ($1,882), and FICA ($3,199), a Meter Readers, Utilities in North Carolina takes home $33,712 per year — or $2,809 per month. The effective tax rate of 19.4% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Meter Readers, Utilities in North Carolina faces an effective total tax rate of only 19.4%, keeping 80.6% of every gross dollar. That leaves $33,712 net out of $41,830 gross — a favorable outcome compared to states with combined rates above 30%.
North Carolina applies a flat state income tax — every dollar of wage income is taxed at the same rate. For this Meter Readers, Utilities salary that contributes $1,882 to the 4.5% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Meter Readers, Utilities salary is $3,036 (37%), but combined state ($1,882, 23%) + FICA ($3,200, 39%) make up the other 63% of the bill.
A Meter Readers, Utilities earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $35,594 — only $1,882 (5.6%) more than in North Carolina.
North Carolina sits near the bottom (#35 of 39) for Meter Readers, Utilities after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $33,712 net/year works out to $2,809/month or $1,297/bi-weekly for this Meter Readers, Utilities in North Carolina — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Meter Readers, Utilities keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
North Carolina ranks #35 out of 39 states for Meter Readers, Utilities after-tax take-home pay.
A Meter Readers, Utilities in North Carolina earning a median salary of $41,830 will take home approximately $33,712 per year after federal income tax ($3,035), state income tax ($1,882), and FICA ($3,199). That is $2,809 per month or $1,296 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Meter Readers, Utilities in North Carolina is 19.4%, broken down as: federal income tax 7.3%, North Carolina state tax 4.5%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
North Carolina has a 4.5% flat rate. On a Meter Readers, Utilities's median salary of $41,830, the state income tax amounts to $1,882 per year, which is an effective state rate of 4.5%.
After all taxes, a Meter Readers, Utilities in North Carolina takes home approximately $2,809 per month, or about $16.21 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2025 BLS median salary of $41,830 for Meter Readers, Utilities in North Carolina, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), North Carolina state income tax (4.5% flat rate), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $33,712/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR