Machinist Salary in Hickory, NC
Machinists in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median $43,430 a year — 26% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,852 take-home, or $2,988 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Hickory, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,032
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,693
- Medicare (1.45%)$630
- North Carolina income tax$1,224
- Take-home pay$35,852
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Machinist pay by experience in Hickory, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,440 | $18.00 | $31,278 | $2,606 |
| 25th percentile | $41,990 | $20.19 | $34,752 | $2,896 |
| Median (50th) | $43,430 | $20.88 | $35,852 | $2,988 |
| 75th percentile | $48,580 | $23.36 | $39,784 | $3,315 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,550 | $28.63 | $48,161 | $4,013 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,430 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 machinist's $35,852 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,517 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 1.6× the national concentration of machinist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Hickory, NC ranks #113 of 115 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $67,700 | $54,812 | $60,379 |
| 2 | New Orleans, LA | $66,990 | $54,334 | $58,678 |
| 3 | St. Cloud, MN | $62,230 | $49,474 | $56,456 |
| 4 | Kingsport, TN | $57,890 | $48,695 | $56,329 |
| 5 | Davenport, IA | $61,710 | $50,071 | $56,209 |
| 6 | Lafayette, LA | $59,830 | $48,845 | $56,009 |
| 7 | Toledo, OH | $62,190 | $51,222 | $56,008 |
| 8 | Beaumont, TX | $59,800 | $50,229 | $55,782 |
| 113 | Hickory, NC | $43,430 | $35,852 | $40,517 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 115 metros →
Machinist salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Raleigh, NC — $61,430
- Charlotte, NC — $60,210
- Greensboro, NC — $52,270
- Asheville, NC — $53,110
- Winston, NC — $50,350
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Hickory, NC?
The median machinist salary in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $43,430 a year, or about $20.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $41,990 and $48,580.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Hickory, NC?
On the median $43,430 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $35,852 a year ($2,988 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,224 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Hickory, NC a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 26% below the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 11.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,517 would in a typical U.S. city. Hickory, NC ranks #113 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist 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) — 30% of a median machinist’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
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $43,140
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $42,770