Driver/Sales Worker Salary in Hickory, NC
Driver/Sales Workers in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median $32,050 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $27,162 take-home, or $2,264 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median driver/sales worker salary in Hickory, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,666
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,987
- Medicare (1.45%)$465
- North Carolina income tax$770
- Take-home pay$27,162
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Driver/Sales Worker pay by experience in Hickory, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,910 | $9.09 | $16,937 | $1,411 |
| 25th percentile | $21,270 | $10.23 | $18,786 | $1,565 |
| Median (50th) | $32,050 | $15.41 | $27,162 | $2,264 |
| 75th percentile | $46,840 | $22.52 | $38,456 | $3,205 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,070 | $35.13 | $57,828 | $4,819 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $32,050 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 driver/sales worker's $27,162 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,697 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 1.4× the national concentration of driver/sales worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for driver/sales workers, adjusted for cost of living
Hickory, NC ranks #105 of 151 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Cloud, MN | $47,210 | $38,406 | $43,827 |
| 2 | Davenport, IA | $46,940 | $38,764 | $43,517 |
| 3 | Sioux Falls, SD | $44,740 | $38,129 | $42,070 |
| 4 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $44,880 | $37,187 | $41,801 |
| 5 | Des Moines, IA | $46,330 | $38,297 | $41,763 |
| 6 | Scranton, PA | $46,430 | $38,061 | $40,683 |
| 7 | Spokane, WA | $47,920 | $40,684 | $40,543 |
| 8 | Greensboro, NC | $45,200 | $37,203 | $40,062 |
| 105 | Hickory, NC | $32,050 | $27,162 | $30,697 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 151 metros →
Driver/Sales Worker salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Greensboro, NC — $45,200
- Raleigh, NC — $45,630
- Charlotte, NC — $37,830
- Asheville, NC — $35,390
- Wilmington, NC — $33,130
- Durham, NC — $30,970
- Winston, NC — $26,380
- Fayetteville, NC — $17,850
Frequently asked questions
How much does a driver/sales worker make in Hickory, NC?
The median driver/sales worker salary in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $32,050 a year, or about $15.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $21,270 and $46,840.
What is a driver/sales worker’s take-home pay in Hickory, NC?
On the median $32,050 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $27,162 a year ($2,264 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $770 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Hickory, NC a good place to work as a driver/sales worker?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $38,770. Local prices are 11.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,697 would in a typical U.S. city. Hickory, NC ranks #105 of 151 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a driver/sales worker 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 driver/sales worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Hickory, NC
- 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