Project Management Specialist Salary in Hickory, NC
Project Management Specialists in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median $85,490 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $66,070 take-home, or $5,506 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median project management specialist salary in Hickory, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,978
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,300
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,240
- North Carolina income tax$2,902
- Take-home pay$66,070
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.99% state
Project Management Specialist pay by experience in Hickory, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,840 | $25.40 | $43,037 | $3,586 |
| 25th percentile | $64,050 | $30.79 | $51,597 | $4,300 |
| Median (50th) | $85,490 | $41.10 | $66,070 | $5,506 |
| 75th percentile | $123,580 | $59.41 | $91,311 | $7,609 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $159,810 | $76.83 | $114,628 | $9,552 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $85,490 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 project management specialist's $66,070 take-home pay has the buying power of $74,667 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Project Management Specialist jobs are less concentrated in Hickory, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.46), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for project management specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Hickory, NC ranks #126 of 209 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peoria, IL | $123,730 | $89,856 | $98,492 |
| 2 | Kennewick, WA | $125,940 | $97,346 | $97,269 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $130,380 | $100,381 | $90,325 |
| 4 | Huntsville, AL | $112,130 | $82,372 | $88,503 |
| 5 | Beaumont, TX | $100,470 | $79,511 | $88,300 |
| 6 | Davenport, IA | $102,880 | $77,948 | $87,505 |
| 7 | Rochester, MN | $106,270 | $77,888 | $85,760 |
| 8 | Boulder, CO | $122,040 | $90,019 | $85,568 |
| 126 | Hickory, NC | $85,490 | $66,070 | $74,667 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 209 metros →
Project Management Specialist salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Greenville, NC — $94,540
- Charlotte, NC — $105,200
- Greensboro, NC — $99,690
- Durham, NC — $104,870
- Raleigh, NC — $102,280
- Asheville, NC — $97,470
- Wilmington, NC — $89,120
- Fayetteville, NC — $82,680
Frequently asked questions
How much does a project management specialist make in Hickory, NC?
The median project management specialist salary in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $85,490 a year, or about $41.10 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $64,050 and $123,580.
What is a project management specialist’s take-home pay in Hickory, NC?
On the median $85,490 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $66,070 a year ($5,506 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,902 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Hickory, NC a good place to work as a project management specialist?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $102,320. Local prices are 11.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $74,667 would in a typical U.S. city. Hickory, NC ranks #126 of 209 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a project management specialist 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 project management specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Hickory, NC
- Accountant and Auditor — $77,490
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $75,450
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $69,230
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $65,460
- Human Resources Specialist — $64,700
- Training and Development Specialist — $56,300