Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary Salary in Hickory, NC
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median $27,630 a year — 25% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $23,770 take-home, or $1,981 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median teaching assistants, except postsecondary salary in Hickory, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,153
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,713
- Medicare (1.45%)$401
- North Carolina income tax$594
- Take-home pay$23,770
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.99% state
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary pay by experience in Hickory, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,300 | $11.68 | $21,160 | $1,763 |
| 25th percentile | $26,330 | $12.66 | $22,751 | $1,896 |
| Median (50th) | $27,630 | $13.28 | $23,770 | $1,981 |
| 75th percentile | $33,540 | $16.13 | $28,300 | $2,358 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,920 | $16.79 | $29,354 | $2,446 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $27,630 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 teaching assistants, except postsecondary's $23,770 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,863 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary jobs are less concentrated in Hickory, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.63), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for teaching assistants, except postsecondary, adjusted for cost of living
Hickory, NC ranks #284 of 337 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Vernon, WA | $57,950 | $48,743 | $47,580 |
| 2 | Decatur, IL | $48,480 | $38,879 | $43,969 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $51,670 | $43,697 | $42,287 |
| 4 | Yakima, WA | $47,380 | $40,250 | $42,127 |
| 5 | Olympia, WA | $51,350 | $43,440 | $41,902 |
| 6 | Pueblo, CO | $46,280 | $38,038 | $41,453 |
| 7 | Bismarck, ND | $44,110 | $37,622 | $41,332 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $53,950 | $45,529 | $40,968 |
| 284 | Hickory, NC | $27,630 | $23,770 | $26,863 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 337 metros →
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Raleigh, NC — $35,300
- Wilmington, NC — $33,030
- Greenville, NC — $29,700
- Winston, NC — $30,100
- Burlington, NC — $29,780
- Jacksonville, NC — $29,110
- Greensboro, NC — $29,050
- Fayetteville, NC — $28,690
Frequently asked questions
How much does a teaching assistants, except postsecondary make in Hickory, NC?
The median teaching assistants, except postsecondary salary in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $27,630 a year, or about $13.28 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $26,330 and $33,540.
What is a teaching assistants, except postsecondary’s take-home pay in Hickory, NC?
On the median $27,630 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $23,770 a year ($1,981 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $594 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Hickory, NC a good place to work as a teaching assistants, except postsecondary?
Pay here is 25% below the national median of $36,780. Local prices are 11.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,863 would in a typical U.S. city. Hickory, NC ranks #284 of 337 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a teaching assistants, except postsecondary 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) — 46% of a median teaching assistants, except postsecondary’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.