StateRates

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton salaries

The median worker in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earned $43,270 a year in 2024, about $20.80 an hour. That ranks #307 of the 391 metro areas published here, 12.6% below the national median.

North Carolina

Median pay $43,270 $20.80 per hour
Vs national -12.6% U.S. $49,500
Workers 155,050 wage and salary
Metro rank #307 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton pays 7.8% less than North Carolina as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Upholsterers 101.55× 2,140 $59,400
Cutters and Trimmers, Hand 81.43× 580 $47,230
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 21.21× 1,400 $52,150
Sewing Machine Operators 17.96× 1,980 $46,360
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing 13.04× 830 $38,240
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 12.73× 610 $43,420
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 6.35× 620 $47,980
Production Workers, All Other 5.02× 1,400 $37,510
Cooks, Fast Food 4.45× 2,990 $24,180
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers 4.06× 1,070 $48,790
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 4.02× 630 $37,500
Helpers--Production Workers 3.62× 610 $38,170

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Computer and Information Systems Managers $151,820 $72.99 210
Pharmacists $135,230 $65.01 320
Financial Managers $132,480 $63.69 300
Sales Managers $125,110 $60.15 370
Physician Assistants $122,710 $59.00 200
Software Developers $121,590 $58.46 360
Nurse Practitioners $120,520 $57.94 290
Industrial Production Managers $111,990 $53.84 550
Electrical Engineers $103,960 $49.98 220
Medical and Health Services Managers $102,090 $49.08 470
Managers, All Other $101,610 $48.85 350
Computer Systems Analysts $100,250 $48.20 240
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers $97,240 $46.75 250
Lawyers $96,750 $46.51 250
Construction Managers $95,370 $45.85 370
Project Management Specialists $92,580 $44.51 450
General and Operations Managers $91,030 $43.77 2,070
Dental Hygienists $90,000 $43.27 250
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers $84,710 $40.73 250
Mechanical Engineers $84,450 $40.60 240
Industrial Engineers $80,560 $38.73 650
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary $80,280 n/a 250
Registered Nurses $77,680 $37.35 2,950
Accountants and Auditors $77,190 $37.11 940
Management Analysts $73,470 $35.32 260
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $69,160 $33.25 590
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $67,780 $32.59 660
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $65,540 $31.51 600
Business Operations Specialists, All Other $64,480 $31.00 620
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians $63,480 $30.52 330
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $63,280 $30.42 1,790
Human Resources Specialists $61,480 $29.56 610
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $61,310 $29.48 600
Food Service Managers $61,200 $29.42 230
Buyers and Purchasing Agents $61,130 $29.39 520
Logisticians $60,150 $28.92 210
Insurance Sales Agents $60,080 $28.89 350
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $59,970 $28.83 740
Industrial Machinery Mechanics $59,930 $28.81 860
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary $59,860 $28.78 390
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $59,540 $28.62 1,790
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $59,510 $28.61 780
Upholsterers $59,400 $28.56 2,140
Maintenance Workers, Machinery $59,390 $28.55 450
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $59,280 $28.50 1,120
Child, Family, and School Social Workers $58,970 $28.35 550
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians $56,340 $27.09 300
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors $55,410 $26.64 250
Postal Service Mail Carriers $54,270 $26.09 440
Computer User Support Specialists $52,660 $25.32 330
Electricians $52,620 $25.30 690
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $52,280 $25.13 3,420
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $52,270 $25.13 770
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $52,150 $25.07 1,400
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $51,470 $24.74 320
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists $51,320 $24.67 420
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $51,270 n/a 760
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $50,830 n/a 1,120
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors $50,450 $24.26 280
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers $50,380 $24.22 280

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 4,160 $36,420 $17.51
Retail Salespersons 3,840 $28,810 $13.85
Stockers and Order Fillers 3,750 $37,440 $18.00
Cashiers 3,670 $27,070 $13.01
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 3,520 $38,670 $18.59
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 3,420 $52,280 $25.13
Nursing Assistants 3,010 $36,050 $17.33
Cooks, Fast Food 2,990 $24,180 $11.63
Registered Nurses 2,950 $77,680 $37.35
Fast Food and Counter Workers 2,530 $28,400 $13.65
Customer Service Representatives 2,320 $37,480 $18.02
Office Clerks, General 2,200 $37,740 $18.14
Upholsterers 2,140 $59,400 $28.56
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 2,110 $29,770 $14.31
General and Operations Managers 2,070 $91,030 $43.77
Waiters and Waitresses 2,070 $26,580 $12.78
Sewing Machine Operators 1,980 $46,360 $22.29
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products 1,790 $59,540 $28.62
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 1,790 $63,280 $30.42
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 1,730 $48,620 n/a

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other North Carolina metro areas

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?

The median across all occupations is $43,270, or $20.80 an hour, covering 155,050 wage and salary workers. The mean is $52,680, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton pay more than the rest of North Carolina?

No. The metro median of $43,270 is 7.8% below the North Carolina median of $46,950. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?

Computer and Information Systems Managers ($151,820), Pharmacists ($135,230), Financial Managers ($132,480). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton unusually full of?

Upholsterers, at 101.55× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.