Ihor Chopovskyi | Istock | Getty Images

North Carolina Score and RankingCATEGORY 2026 SCORE 2026 RANK 2025 RANK 2026 GRADE INFRASTRUCTURE2541311B-ECONOMY31713A+WORKFORCE25834AQUALITY OF LIFE1343429C-COST OF DOING BUSINESS1612021BTECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION160813B+BUSINESS FRIENDLINESS15884B+ACCESS TO CAPITAL9058A-EDUCATION62126BCOST OF LIVING203523C-OVERALL161421Economic Profile

Governor: Josh Stein, Democrat

Population: 11,197,968

GDP growth (Q1 2026): 3.20%

Unemployment rate (May 2026): 3.70%

Top corporate tax rate: 2.00%

Top individual income tax rate: 3.99%

Gasoline tax: 59.65 cents/gallon

Bond rating (Moody’s/S&P): Aaa, Stable/AAA, Stable

Economic profile sources: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federation of Tax Administrators, American Petroleum Institute (including 18.40 cent/gallon federal tax), Moody’s Investor Service, S&P Global Market Intelligence

More coverage of the 2026 America’s Top States for BusinessChoose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.