Zhou Tai was from Nanyang Commandery, which is around present-day Nanyang, Henan. He came from the same commandery as Deng Ai and was around the same age as him. He was described as "eager to achieve glory, and well-versed in military tactics". Early in his career, Zhou Tai served as an Assistant Officer to Pei Qian, the Inspector of Jing Province. Sometime between 227 and 230, when the general Sima Yi was stationed at Wan County to oversee the military affairs of Jing and Yu provinces, Zhou Tai became acquainted with Sima Yi after frequently helping Sima Yi and Pei Qian deliver messages to each other. In 227, when Sima Yi led Wei forces to suppressa rebellion by Meng Da in Xincheng Commandery, he recruited Zhou Tai to serve an officer in his army. Later, when his parents and grandfather died, Zhou Tai had to retire temporarily to perform filial mourning for nine years. Sima Yi valued Zhou Tai so much that he reserved a position for him. After 36 days, Zhou Tai was appointed as the new Administrator of Xincheng Commandery. Sima Yi secretly instructed a Master of Writing to tease Zhou Tai, "You discarded your plain clothing and entered a high office. After only 36 days, you now wield great power and command the armed forces in a commandery. It's like a beggar riding on a carriage – that's really fast!" Zhou Tai quipped, "You're right. You come from a famous aristocratic family, and you're already known for your talents since you were young. That's why you're still a Master of Writing. It's like a macaque riding on an ox – that's really slow!" Everyone present was amused. In the spring of 251, the Wei emperor Cao Fang ordered Wang Ji and Zhou Tai to lead forces to attack Wei's rival state, Eastern Wu. They defeated the enemy and forced thousands of enemy troops into surrendering. Zhou Tai climbed the ranks steadily in the 250s and became the Inspector of Yan Province and later the Inspector of Yu Province. In the summer of 257, the Wei general Zhuge Dan started a rebellion in Shouchun with support from Wei's rival state, Eastern Wu. Zhou Tai, then the Inspector of Yan Province, received orders from the Wei regent Sima Zhao to mobilise troops to suppress the rebellion. Sima Zhao sent troops under the command of Zhou Tai, Shi Bao, Hu Zhi and others to attack Zhuge Dan and his Wu allies. Zhou Tai defeated Wu forces led by Zhu Yi at Yangyuan. As Zhu Yi and his men attempted to retreat, Zhou Tai led his forces in pursuit and killed and wounded over 2,000 enemy troops. In autumn, the Wu general Sun Chen ordered Zhu Yi, Ding Feng, Li Fei and three others to lead troops to relieve the siege on Shouchun. They left their supplies and heavy equipment at Dulu and advanced toward Lijiang. Shi Bao and Zhou Tai attacked and defeated them. The rebellion was completely suppressed by early 258. The highest office Zhou Tai ever reached was General Who Attacks Barbarians. He was also given imperial authority to supervise military affairs in the Jiangnan region. He died in 261 and was posthumously appointed as General of the Guards, and given the posthumous title "Marquis Zhuang".
