N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143B-1275
Any employee of the State of North Carolina, who has been granted a leave of absence for service in either (i) the Armed Forces of the United States; or (ii) the United States Merchant Marine; or (iii) outside the continental United States with the Red Cross, shall, upon return to State employment, if reemployed in the same position and if within the time limits set forth in the leave of absence, receive an annual salary of at least (i) the annual salary the employee was receiving at the time such leave was granted; plus (ii) an amount obtained by multiplying the step increment applicable to the employee's classification as provided in the classification and salary plan for State employees by the number of years of such service, counting a fraction of a year as a year; provided that no such employee shall receive a salary in excess of the top of the salary range applicable to the classification to which such employee is assigned upon return.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143B-1275