Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Hickory, NC
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median $57,460 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $46,565 take-home, or $3,880 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Hickory, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,715
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,563
- Medicare (1.45%)$833
- North Carolina income tax$1,784
- Take-home pay$46,565
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver pay by experience in Hickory, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,640 | $19.54 | $33,721 | $2,810 |
| 25th percentile | $48,150 | $23.15 | $39,456 | $3,288 |
| Median (50th) | $57,460 | $27.63 | $46,565 | $3,880 |
| 75th percentile | $66,550 | $32.00 | $53,501 | $4,458 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,410 | $37.70 | $61,372 | $5,114 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $57,460 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 heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $46,565 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,624 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 1.5× the national concentration of heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Hickory, NC ranks #22 of 134 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln, NE | $81,790 | $63,527 | $69,367 |
| 2 | Memphis, TN | $63,070 | $52,857 | $57,341 |
| 3 | Sioux Falls, SD | $60,820 | $51,049 | $56,326 |
| 4 | Iowa City, IA | $61,960 | $50,262 | $54,926 |
| 5 | Toledo, OH | $60,410 | $49,841 | $54,497 |
| 6 | Fargo, ND | $58,900 | $49,506 | $54,480 |
| 7 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $58,900 | $47,920 | $53,865 |
| 8 | Youngstown, OH | $56,810 | $47,047 | $53,833 |
| 22 | Hickory, NC | $57,460 | $46,565 | $52,624 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 134 metros →
About the job: heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers’ license.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Greensboro, NC — $58,480
- Charlotte, NC — $56,120
- Winston, NC — $51,320
- Raleigh, NC — $52,110
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Hickory, NC?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $57,460 a year, or about $27.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,150 and $66,550.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Hickory, NC?
On the median $57,460 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $46,565 a year ($3,880 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,784 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Hickory, NC a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 11.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,624 would in a typical U.S. city. Hickory, NC ranks #22 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver 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) — 23% of a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Hickory, NC
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- Stocker and Order Filler — $38,130