Helpers--Production Worker Salary in Hickory, NC
Helpers--Production Workers in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median $39,410 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,782 take-home, or $2,732 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median helpers--production worker salary in Hickory, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,549
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,443
- Medicare (1.45%)$571
- North Carolina income tax$1,064
- Take-home pay$32,782
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Helpers--Production Worker pay by experience in Hickory, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,620 | $16.64 | $29,125 | $2,427 |
| 25th percentile | $39,410 | $18.95 | $32,782 | $2,732 |
| Median (50th) | $39,410 | $18.95 | $32,782 | $2,732 |
| 75th percentile | $44,020 | $21.16 | $36,302 | $3,025 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,580 | $24.32 | $41,312 | $3,443 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,410 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 helpers--production worker's $32,782 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,048 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 3.9× the national concentration of helpers--production worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for helpers--production workers, adjusted for cost of living
Hickory, NC ranks #9 of 69 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cincinnati, OH | $46,410 | $38,977 | $40,869 |
| 2 | Hartford, CT | $48,690 | $40,036 | $38,966 |
| 3 | Springfield, MO | $41,040 | $34,164 | $38,566 |
| 4 | Knoxville, TN | $41,330 | $35,389 | $38,229 |
| 5 | Kansas City, MO | $42,210 | $35,049 | $37,873 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $41,730 | $35,345 | $37,632 |
| 7 | Greensboro, NC | $42,240 | $34,943 | $37,628 |
| 8 | Morristown, TN | $37,700 | $32,472 | $37,599 |
| 9 | Hickory, NC | $39,410 | $32,782 | $37,048 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 69 metros →
Helpers--Production Worker salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Greensboro, NC — $42,240
- Charlotte, NC — $40,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a helpers--production worker make in Hickory, NC?
The median helpers--production worker salary in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $39,410 a year, or about $18.95 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,410 and $44,020.
What is a helpers--production worker’s take-home pay in Hickory, NC?
On the median $39,410 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $32,782 a year ($2,732 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,064 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Hickory, NC a good place to work as a helpers--production worker?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $39,070. Local prices are 11.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,048 would in a typical U.S. city. Hickory, NC ranks #9 of 69 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a helpers--production 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) — 33% of a median helpers--production worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Hickory, NC
- 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