Checked
North Carolina Unemployment Benefits
North Carolina paid an average of $312 a week in regular unemployment benefits in Sep 2026.
- Average weekly benefit
- $312
- Sep 2026
- A year earlier
- $325
- -4.1% change
- First payments
- 5,216
- People starting benefits in the month
- Paid in the last 12 months
- $219M
Average weekly benefit
Monthly, regular state program
Show as a table
| Period | North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | $312 |
| Dec 2025 | $316 |
| Dec 2024 | $474 |
| Dec 2023 | $303 |
| Dec 2022 | $287 |
| Dec 2021 | $229 |
| Dec 2020 | $222 |
| Dec 2019 | $273 |
| Dec 2018 | $257 |
| Dec 2017 | $256 |
| Dec 2016 | $245 |
| Dec 2015 | $234 |
Monthly activity
Initial claims, first payments, weeks paid and final payments (benefits exhausted)
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Month | Initial claims | First payments | Weeks paid | Average weekly | Exhausted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 12,215 | 5,216 | 50,565 | $312 | 3,119 |
| Aug 2026 | 13,156 | 5,642 | 63,496 | $306 | 3,947 |
| Jul 2026 | 14,122 | 6,390 | 58,460 | $306 | 3,304 |
| Jun 2026 | 14,641 | 6,570 | 59,951 | $307 | 3,243 |
| May 2026 | 14,490 | 5,941 | 57,422 | $310 | 3,581 |
| Apr 2026 | 13,700 | 5,568 | 54,755 | $312 | 3,616 |
| Mar 2026 | 13,879 | 6,264 | 67,251 | $308 | 3,554 |
| Feb 2026 | 13,987 | 6,926 | 58,218 | $312 | 3,533 |
| Jan 2026 | 17,281 | 6,926 | 58,218 | $312 | 3,533 |
| Dec 2025 | 14,861 | 6,141 | 58,732 | $316 | 3,634 |
| Nov 2025 | 13,405 | 5,667 | 60,050 | $318 | 3,650 |
| Oct 2025 | 14,972 | 6,201 | 57,197 | $320 | 3,510 |
| Sep 2025 | 14,849 | 7,345 | 69,285 | $325 | 4,285 |
| Aug 2025 | 13,754 | 6,162 | 61,257 | $320 | 3,893 |
| Jul 2025 | 16,045 | 6,935 | 66,186 | $322 | 3,861 |
| Jun 2025 | 15,407 | 7,016 | 73,297 | $339 | 4,460 |
| May 2025 | 15,755 | 6,453 | 63,485 | $396 | 4,652 |
| Apr 2025 | 15,923 | 6,456 | 69,577 | $462 | 5,114 |
| Mar 2025 | 15,772 | 7,411 | 87,944 | $517 | 5,445 |
| Feb 2025 | 15,199 | 7,705 | 76,974 | $515 | 5,090 |
| Jan 2025 | 19,680 | 8,681 | 82,989 | $498 | 5,948 |
| Dec 2024 | 15,633 | 9,158 | 113,741 | $474 | 7,257 |
| Nov 2024 | 15,845 | 8,555 | 86,720 | $434 | 3,299 |
| Oct 2024 | 39,476 | 15,160 | 82,172 | $368 | 3,772 |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average unemployment benefit in North Carolina?
- North Carolina paid an average of $312 per week of regular unemployment benefits in Sep 2026, according to the state's report to the U.S. Department of Labor.
- How do I apply for unemployment in North Carolina?
- Apply with the North Carolina state unemployment insurance agency. CareerOneStop, sponsored by the Department of Labor, lists each state's agency and website.