Cost of Living in Hickory, NC

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.

Salary comparison calculator

What would you need to earn in Hickory, NC to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?

Prices in Hickory, NC vs. the U.S. average

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Rent in Hickory, NC

HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.

Take-home pay in Hickory, NC

Highest-paying jobs in Hickory, NC

*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.

Frequently asked questions

All salaries in Hickory, NC

Management Occupations

• Industrial Production Manager — $124,290
• General and Operations Manager — $95,640

Business and Financial Operations Occupations

• Project Management Specialist — $85,490
• Accountant and Auditor — $77,490
• Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $75,450
• Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $69,230
• Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $65,460
• Human Resources Specialist — $64,700
• Training and Development Specialist — $56,300

Architecture and Engineering Occupations

• Industrial Engineer — $86,640

Community and Social Service Occupations

• Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $59,840

Educational Instruction and Library Occupations

• Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $57,790
• Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $51,970
• Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $49,540
• Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $33,220
• Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $27,630

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations

• Registered Nurse — $80,060
• Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $62,430
• Pharmacy Technician — $43,920

Healthcare Support Occupations

• Medical Assistant — $43,290
• Nursing Assistant — $37,430
• Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $30,490

Protective Service Occupations

• Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $52,260
• Correctional Officer and Jailer — $48,940
• Firefighter — $36,340
• Security Guard — $31,860

Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations

• First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $41,780
• Bartender — $31,860
• Cooks, Restaurant — $30,380
• Waiter and Waitress — $29,310
• Food Preparation Worker — $27,680
• Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,580
• Cooks, Fast Food — $27,550

Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations

• Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $36,550
• Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $33,350
• Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $30,490

Sales and Related Occupations

• Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $67,150
• Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $59,850
• First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $47,110
• Retail Salesperson — $30,520
• Cashier — $27,570

Office and Administrative Support Occupations

• First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $60,320
• Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $51,860
• Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $45,130
• Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $42,520
• Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $41,710
• Office Clerks, General — $40,340
• Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $38,380
• Customer Service Representative — $37,790

Construction and Extraction Occupations

• First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $69,990
• Electrician — $53,730
• Construction Laborer — $44,550

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations

• First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $75,120
• Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $61,570
• Maintenance Workers, Machinery — $60,940
• Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $47,690
• Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $46,860

Production Occupations

• First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $64,910
• Upholsterer — $59,700
• Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $53,800
• Cutters and Trimmers, Hand — $49,200
• Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $48,740
• Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $48,230
• Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers — $47,940
• Sewing Machine Operator — $46,540
• Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $46,080
• Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $44,940
• Machinist — $43,430
• Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $43,140
• Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $42,770
• Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $41,150
• Helpers--Production Worker — $39,410
• Production Workers, All Other — $38,720
• Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $38,370
• Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing — $38,310

Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

• First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $60,690
• Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $57,460
• Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $42,850
• Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $40,240
• Stocker and Order Filler — $38,130
• Light Truck Driver — $38,070
• Packers and Packagers, Hand — $35,840
• Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $33,930
• Driver/Sales Worker — $32,050

Other cities in North Carolina

• Charlotte, NC
• Raleigh, NC
• Greensboro, NC
• Durham, NC
• Winston, NC
• Wilmington, NC
• Asheville, NC
• Fayetteville, NC
• Greenville, NC
• Burlington, NC

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