Bartender Salary in Hickory, NC
Bartenders in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median $31,860 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $27,017 take-home, or $2,251 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Hickory, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,643
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,975
- Medicare (1.45%)$462
- North Carolina income tax$762
- Take-home pay$27,017
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Bartender pay by experience in Hickory, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,780 | $7.59 | $14,452 | $1,204 |
| 25th percentile | $19,620 | $9.43 | $17,493 | $1,458 |
| Median (50th) | $31,860 | $15.32 | $27,017 | $2,251 |
| 75th percentile | $47,620 | $22.89 | $39,051 | $3,254 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,570 | $30.08 | $50,467 | $4,206 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,860 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 bartender's $27,017 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,533 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Bartender jobs are less concentrated in Hickory, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.70), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Hickory, NC ranks #74 of 237 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $86,280 | $64,501 | $58,962 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $75,340 | $57,636 | $51,943 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $55,820 | $47,031 | $46,994 |
| 4 | Bellingham, WA | $56,110 | $47,264 | $45,739 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $58,180 | $48,928 | $44,026 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $61,220 | $48,661 | $43,230 |
| 7 | Bremerton, WA | $53,810 | $45,416 | $43,005 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $54,170 | $43,231 | $42,442 |
| 74 | Hickory, NC | $31,860 | $27,017 | $30,533 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 237 metros →
Bartender salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Wilmington, NC — $37,890
- Charlotte, NC — $37,390
- Winston, NC — $34,920
- Fayetteville, NC — $34,880
- Durham, NC — $37,110
- Greensboro, NC — $34,550
- Raleigh, NC — $36,120
- Asheville, NC — $35,380
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Hickory, NC?
The median bartender salary in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $31,860 a year, or about $15.32 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $19,620 and $47,620.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Hickory, NC?
On the median $31,860 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $27,017 a year ($2,251 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $762 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Hickory, NC a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 11.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,533 would in a typical U.S. city. Hickory, NC ranks #74 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender 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) — 40% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Hickory, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $41,780
- 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