Childcare Workers pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,940 a year or less, while the top 10% make $39,920 or more. The middle half of childcare workers in Hickory earn between $26,590 and $35,440.
- $23K10th
- $27K25th
- $28KMedian
- $35K75th
- $40K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,870 | $2,572 | $14.84 |
| Median | $28,460 | $2,372 | $13.68 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $26,590 | $2,216 | $12.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,440 | $2,953 | $17.04 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Childcare Workers pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Childcare workers in Hickory earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($30,940) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($35,030). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $34,980.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $30,870 | $28,460 | $22,940 | $39,920 | 250 |
| North Carolina | $30,940 | $29,140 | $22,840 | $40,990 | 12,550 |
| United States | $35,030 | $34,980 | $24,260 | $46,010 | 518,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Childcare Workers salary after taxes in Hickory
On the average salary of $30,870, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $26,261 a year, or $2,188 a month and $1,010 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for childcare workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $30,870 buys what about $34,887 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 8.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Childcare Workers salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 8th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Asheville pays the most ($33,450).
- Asheville$33,450
- Charlotte$33,280
- Durham$32,870
- Fayetteville$31,940
- Greensboro$31,050
- Winston-Salem$31,040
- Burlington$30,930
- Hickory$30,870
- Wilmington$30,660
- Raleigh$30,440
Highest-paying cities for childcare workers
Sarasota, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($52,680).
- Sarasota, FL$52,680
- San Jose, CA$48,450
- San Francisco, CA$46,100
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Boulder, CO$44,280
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Childcare Workers salary in Hickory: questions
How much do childcare workers make an hour in Hickory?
$14.84 an hour on average, and $13.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level childcare workers salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,940 a year and the 25th percentile is $26,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the childcare workers take-home pay in Hickory?
About $26,261 a year ($2,188 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,870.
Do childcare workers earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,030).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 39-9011; area Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.48, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.48).
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