Hickory Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Hickory, NC: $21.74/hr median hourly wage, $45,220 median annual salary, cost of living index 88.5, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and North Carolina taxes.
Hickory Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Hickory, NC is $21.74/hr,and the median annual wage is $45,220. Entry-level pay estimates around $13.48/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $30.87/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metropolitan statistical area (154,090 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Hickory shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$45,220
$21.74/hr
Cost of Living
88.5
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
3%
rate
Hickory, NC Overview
Population
44,147
Median Salary
$45,220
Average Salary
$54,360
Avg Commute
17 min
Median Home Price
$266,000
Median Rent
$1,086/mo
Job Growth
+2.7%
Sales Tax
4.75%
Hickory is located in North Carolina with a population of 44,147. The median annual wage across all occupations is $45,220 ($21.74/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro), which is $5,760 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 17 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +2.7%.
Hickory Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Hickory, NC built around the $45,220 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $28,036 | $13.48/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $45,220 | $21.74/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $64,212 | $30.87/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $80,492 | $38.70/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Hickory Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Hickory, NC, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$37,219
$3,101.56/month · $1,431.49/biweekly · Effective Rate: 17.7%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,431.49 take-home per paycheck after estimated North Carolina and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$45,220
Federal Tax
-$3,246
State Tax
-$1,296
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,459
Net Pay
$37,219
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $3,768.33 | $45,220.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$270.53 | -$3,246.40 |
| North Carolina State Tax (2.86% eff.) | -$107.96 | -$1,295.55 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$233.64 | -$2,803.64 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$54.64 | -$655.69 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,101.56 | $37,218.72 |
Salary Comparison: Hickory vs Other Cities
See how Hickory's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NC | $45,220 | 88.5 | $51,096 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $45,220 | 86 | $52,581 |
| Kingsport, TN | $45,240 | 90.7 | $49,879 |
| Macon, GA | $45,160 | 82 | $55,073 |
| Pocatello, ID | $45,160 | 88 | $51,318 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Hickory
Hickory's cost of living index is 88.5 (national average = 100). Living in Hickory is 11.5% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$266,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,086
Annual Rent Cost
$13,032
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $37,219 annual take-home pay in Hickory has the purchasing power of approximately $42,055 in an average-cost US area. Your $45,220 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Hickory
Hickory's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $45,220.
Salary Tips for Hickory Workers
- Your salary goes further here. Hickory has a cost of living 11.5% below the national average. A salary of $45,220 here has the purchasing power of about $51,096 in an average-cost area.
- Research top industries. Hickory's top industries include Banking, Technology, Biotech. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $45,220 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Hickory salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Hickory indexed at 88.5.
- Median salary: $45,220 annual, $21.74 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC MSA (154,090 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $54,360 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Hickory was $43,332.
- Tax burden reflects North Carolina 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 3.99%) (no local income tax), sales tax (4.75%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Hickory: 3%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Banking, Technology, Biotech, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2.7% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for North Carolina.
- Housing context: median home price $266,000, median rent $1,086/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Hickory, NC:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Hickory unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Hickory QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, North Carolina, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Hickory's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent North Carolina labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Hickory, NC?
The median hourly wage in Hickory, NC is $21.74 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $45,220. Entry-level workers are estimated around $13.48/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $30.87/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Hickory, NC?
The median salary in Hickory, NC is $45,220 per year, or $21.74 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area). The BLS mean salary is $54,360. This is $5,760 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Hickory, NC?
Hickory's cost of living index is 88.5 (national average = 100), meaning it is 11.5% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $266,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,086.
What are the best industries in Hickory?
The top industries in Hickory, NC include Banking, Technology, Biotech. The city has a job growth rate of 2.7% and an unemployment rate of 3%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $45,220.
How does Hickory's salary compare to other cities?
Hickory's median salary of $45,220 is 11.3% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 88.5), the real purchasing power is approximately $51,096.
What is the minimum wage in Hickory, NC?
The minimum wage in Hickory, NC is $7.25 per hour. This equals approximately $15,080 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.