North Carolina GLP-1 Affordability: 16.2 Hours of Work for One Month of Medication
A North Carolina worker earning the median wage must work 2 full days to afford one month of GLP-1 medication, ranking #22 of 51 nationally.
2026 analysis using BLS wage data and current manufacturer pricing | Updated February 2026
median wage
take-home pay
spent on 12 months of Rx
A minimum-wage worker in North Carolina would need 186.1 hours to afford one month of Wegovy — but there are only 160 hours in a full-time work month.
According to the 2026 GLP-1 Affordability Index, North Carolina workers earning median wages must spend 12.5% of their monthly take-home pay — equivalent to 16.2 hours of work — to afford one month of GLP-1 weight loss medication at the best available self-pay price ($349/mo), ranking the state #22 of 51 nationally.
A year of GLP-1 medication at the current self-pay price ($4,188) consumes 115.5% of what the average North Carolina resident saves annually — meaning North Carolina workers must sacrifice 1.15 years of personal savings for 12 months of treatment.
At North Carolina's minimum wage of $7.25/hour, affording Wegovy at list price requires 186.1 hours of work per month — exceeding the 160 hours in a standard full-time work month, making the medication mathematically unaffordable through labor alone.
| Metric | Self-Pay ($349/mo) | Wegovy List ($1,349/mo) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $349 | $1,349 |
| Annual Cost | $4,188 | $16,188 |
| Hours at Median Wage ($21.52/hr) | 16.2 | 62.7 |
| Hours at Minimum Wage ($7.25/hr) | 48.1 | 186.1 |
| % of Monthly Take-Home Pay | 12.5% | 48.2% |
| Working Days per Month | 2 | 7.8 |
| Annual Cost as % of Savings | 115.5% | 446.4% |
| 160-Hour Wall (Min Wage) | No | Yes |
| State | Median Wage | Hours (Self-Pay) | Rank | Obesity Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $21.52 | 16.2 | #22 | 34.4% |
| Virginia | $25.15 | 13.9 | #41 | 32.3% |
| Tennessee | $20.5 | 17 | #11 | N/A* |
| Georgia | $21.33 | 16.4 | #17 | 34.8% |
| South Carolina | $19.95 | 17.5 | #8 | 36.4% |
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<img src="https://weightlossproviderguide.com/research/images/glp1-statcard-north-carolina.webp" alt="North Carolina GLP-1 Affordability: 16.2 hours of work per month" width="1200" height="630"> <p>Source: <a href="https://weightlossproviderguide.com/research/glp1-affordability-index/north-carolina/">GLP-1 Affordability Index</a>, 2026</p>
Methodology: How we calculated these numbers
This analysis uses publicly available federal data to measure how affordable GLP-1 weight loss medications are for workers in each U.S. state.
WAGE DATA: Median hourly wages are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2024 release. We use the “All Occupations” (SOC 00-0000) median hourly wage for each state. Minimum wages reflect state rates effective January 1, 2026, from the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division.
INCOME DATA: Median household income from the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates. Estimated annual savings calculated as median household income × 5.0%, assuming a 5% personal saving rate (illustrative estimate).
MEDICATION PRICING: Self-pay price of $349/month reflects Novo Nordisk self-pay cash pricing via NovoCare Pharmacy (terms apply; government beneficiaries excluded). Wegovy list price of $1,349/month reflects the wholesale acquisition cost (WAC). Both prices current as of February 2026.
NOTE: As of January 2026, an oral Wegovy pill is also available at $149–$299/mo via NovoCare Pharmacy. This analysis uses the Wegovy injectable self-pay price of $349/mo as the baseline.
HEALTH DATA: Adult obesity prevalence from the CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) 2024. Medicaid GLP-1 coverage status from KFF analysis as of January 2026.
CALCULATIONS:
- Hours of work = Monthly drug cost ÷ hourly wage
- % of take-home pay = Monthly drug cost ÷ (hourly wage × 173.33 hours/month × 0.75 tax adjustment) × 100
- 160-Hour Wall = Flagged when hours at minimum wage for list price exceeds 160 (standard full-time month)
- Double Bind = State has obesity rate ≥ 35% AND affordability rank in bottom half
- Savings Wipeout = Annual drug cost ÷ estimated annual savings × 100
LIMITATIONS: Take-home pay estimate uses a flat 25% deduction for taxes/FICA, which varies by state and individual circumstances. Savings estimates are approximations. Actual out-of-pocket costs vary based on insurance, employer coverage, and eligibility for manufacturer programs.
Full dataset available for download: CSV • Full methodology
Because North Carolina Medicaid does cover GLP-1s for weight management, many residents are exploring regulated alternatives.
→ Read our 2026 guide: How North Carolina residents are accessing GLP-1 medications
“GLP-1 Affordability Index: North Carolina.” Weight Loss Provider Guide, 2026.
https://weightlossproviderguide.com/research/glp1-affordability-index/north-carolina/