Upholsterer Salary in Hickory, NC
Upholsterers in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median $59,700 a year — 29% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,276 take-home, or $4,023 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median upholsterer salary in Hickory, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,984
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,701
- Medicare (1.45%)$866
- North Carolina income tax$1,873
- Take-home pay$48,276
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Upholsterer pay by experience in Hickory, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,520 | $21.40 | $36,684 | $3,057 |
| 25th percentile | $48,510 | $23.32 | $39,731 | $3,311 |
| Median (50th) | $59,700 | $28.70 | $48,276 | $4,023 |
| 75th percentile | $62,710 | $30.15 | $50,574 | $4,215 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,970 | $37.00 | $60,416 | $5,035 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,700 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 upholsterer's $48,276 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,557 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 111.2× the national concentration of upholsterer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for upholsterers, adjusted for cost of living
Hickory, NC ranks #1 of 5 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hickory, NC | $59,700 | $48,276 | $54,557 |
| 2 | Greensboro, NC | $49,040 | $40,136 | $43,219 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $47,630 | $38,924 | $34,275 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $46,890 | $37,921 | $33,689 |
| 5 | Miami, FL | $37,840 | $32,584 | $28,544 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 5 metros →
Upholsterer salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Greensboro, NC — $49,040
Frequently asked questions
How much does a upholsterer make in Hickory, NC?
The median upholsterer salary in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $59,700 a year, or about $28.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,510 and $62,710.
What is a upholsterer’s take-home pay in Hickory, NC?
On the median $59,700 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $48,276 a year ($4,023 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,873 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Hickory, NC a good place to work as a upholsterer?
Pay here is 29% above the national median of $46,340. Local prices are 11.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,557 would in a typical U.S. city. Hickory, NC ranks #1 of 5 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a upholsterer 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) — 23% of a median upholsterer’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
- 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
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $42,770