Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Salary in Hickory, NC
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median $40,240 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,416 take-home, or $2,785 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary in Hickory, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,649
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,495
- Medicare (1.45%)$583
- North Carolina income tax$1,097
- Take-home pay$33,416
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay by experience in Hickory, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,520 | $14.67 | $25,994 | $2,166 |
| 25th percentile | $34,950 | $16.80 | $29,377 | $2,448 |
| Median (50th) | $40,240 | $19.35 | $33,416 | $2,785 |
| 75th percentile | $47,590 | $22.88 | $39,028 | $3,252 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,590 | $22.88 | $39,028 | $3,252 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $40,240 buys in Hickory, NC
Prices in Hickory, NC are 11.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 40% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand's $33,416 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,764 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Hickory, NC has 1.7× the national concentration of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand, adjusted for cost of living
Hickory, NC ranks #27 of 164 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waterloo, IA | $47,440 | $39,147 | $44,967 |
| 2 | Fargo, ND | $45,690 | $38,892 | $42,799 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $46,370 | $38,328 | $41,797 |
| 4 | Louisville, KY | $46,830 | $38,286 | $41,135 |
| 5 | Chambersburg, PA | $47,540 | $38,919 | $41,122 |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $43,300 | $35,978 | $40,441 |
| 7 | Youngstown, OH | $41,540 | $35,197 | $40,274 |
| 8 | Tyler, TX | $43,390 | $37,044 | $40,197 |
| 27 | Hickory, NC | $40,240 | $33,416 | $37,764 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 164 metros →
About the job: laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.8% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Burlington, NC — $43,750
- Fayetteville, NC — $37,500
- Winston, NC — $37,160
- Greensboro, NC — $37,190
- Charlotte, NC — $38,850
- Asheville, NC — $38,440
- Raleigh, NC — $38,470
- Durham, NC — $37,750
Frequently asked questions
How much does a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand make in Hickory, NC?
The median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $40,240 a year, or about $19.35 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,950 and $47,590.
What is a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand’s take-home pay in Hickory, NC?
On the median $40,240 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $33,416 a year ($2,785 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,097 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Hickory, NC a good place to work as a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $40,240. Local prices are 11.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,764 would in a typical U.S. city. Hickory, NC ranks #27 of 164 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand afford rent in Hickory, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Hickory, NC is $908 a month ($1,095 for two bedrooms) — 33% of a median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Hickory, NC
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $57,460
- Stocker and Order Filler — $38,130