Industrial Engineer Salary in Hickory, NC
Industrial Engineers in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median $86,640 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $66,833 take-home, or $5,569 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median industrial engineer salary in Hickory, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,231
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,372
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,256
- North Carolina income tax$2,948
- Take-home pay$66,833
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.99% state
Industrial Engineer pay by experience in Hickory, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,600 | $29.62 | $49,726 | $4,144 |
| 25th percentile | $74,340 | $35.74 | $58,671 | $4,889 |
| Median (50th) | $86,640 | $41.65 | $66,833 | $5,569 |
| 75th percentile | $102,310 | $49.19 | $77,232 | $6,436 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,290 | $61.68 | $94,342 | $7,862 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $86,640 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 industrial engineer's $66,833 take-home pay has the buying power of $75,529 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 1.9× the national concentration of industrial engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for industrial engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Hickory, NC ranks #109 of 125 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beaumont, TX | $123,660 | $95,788 | $106,376 |
| 2 | Baton Rouge, LA | $129,500 | $96,281 | $106,059 |
| 3 | New Orleans, LA | $127,340 | $94,869 | $102,454 |
| 4 | Albuquerque, NM | $132,290 | $96,535 | $101,035 |
| 5 | Fort Collins, CO | $131,870 | $96,305 | $95,231 |
| 6 | Peoria, IL | $117,180 | $85,611 | $93,839 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $131,210 | $100,948 | $90,835 |
| 8 | Decatur, AL | $106,230 | $78,516 | $90,029 |
| 109 | Hickory, NC | $86,640 | $66,833 | $75,529 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 125 metros →
Industrial Engineer salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Winston, NC — $97,760
- Raleigh, NC — $104,030
- Durham, NC — $102,890
- Charlotte, NC — $102,090
- Asheville, NC — $100,490
- Greensboro, NC — $95,930
Frequently asked questions
How much does a industrial engineer make in Hickory, NC?
The median industrial engineer salary in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $86,640 a year, or about $41.65 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $74,340 and $102,310.
What is a industrial engineer’s take-home pay in Hickory, NC?
On the median $86,640 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $66,833 a year ($5,569 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,948 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Hickory, NC a good place to work as a industrial engineer?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $102,440. Local prices are 11.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $75,529 would in a typical U.S. city. Hickory, NC ranks #109 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a industrial engineer 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) — 16% of a median industrial engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.