Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator Salary in Hickory, NC
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median $42,770 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,348 take-home, or $2,946 a month.
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- Federal income tax$2,952
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,652
- Medicare (1.45%)$620
- North Carolina income tax$1,198
- Take-home pay$35,348
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator pay by experience in Hickory, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,710 | $14.76 | $26,139 | $2,178 |
| 25th percentile | $36,450 | $17.52 | $30,522 | $2,543 |
| Median (50th) | $42,770 | $20.56 | $35,348 | $2,946 |
| 75th percentile | $46,620 | $22.41 | $38,288 | $3,191 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,650 | $27.72 | $46,710 | $3,893 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,770 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 miscellaneous assembler and fabricator's $35,348 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,947 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 2.3× the national concentration of miscellaneous assembler and fabricator jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators, adjusted for cost of living
Hickory, NC ranks #79 of 266 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lafayette, LA | $64,950 | $52,805 | $60,550 |
| 2 | Jackson, MS | $63,170 | $51,142 | $57,432 |
| 3 | Lafayette, IN | $63,140 | $51,080 | $54,672 |
| 4 | Spartanburg, SC | $59,300 | $47,427 | $52,088 |
| 5 | Lexington, KY | $59,730 | $48,200 | $51,890 |
| 6 | St. Joseph, MO | $54,400 | $44,271 | $51,250 |
| 7 | Grand Forks, ND | $51,850 | $43,841 | $50,588 |
| 8 | Oshkosh, WI | $57,260 | $46,450 | $49,984 |
| 79 | Hickory, NC | $42,770 | $35,348 | $39,947 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 266 metros →
Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Greenville, NC — $48,310
- Burlington, NC — $46,650
- Winston, NC — $42,590
- Asheville, NC — $44,570
- Charlotte, NC — $44,660
- Greensboro, NC — $41,260
- Rocky Mount, NC — $37,480
- Fayetteville, NC — $38,410
Frequently asked questions
How much does a miscellaneous assembler and fabricator make in Hickory, NC?
The median miscellaneous assembler and fabricator salary in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $42,770 a year, or about $20.56 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,450 and $46,620.
What is a miscellaneous assembler and fabricator’s take-home pay in Hickory, NC?
On the median $42,770 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $35,348 a year ($2,946 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,198 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Hickory, NC a good place to work as a miscellaneous assembler and fabricator?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $44,650. Local prices are 11.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,947 would in a typical U.S. city. Hickory, NC ranks #79 of 266 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a miscellaneous assembler and fabricator 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) — 31% of a median miscellaneous assembler and fabricator’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