Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,660 a year or less, while the top 10% make $42,580 or more. The middle half of food servers, nonrestaurant in Hickory earn between $27,300 and $37,080.
- $24K10th
- $27K25th
- $31KMedian
- $37K75th
- $43K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,230 | $2,769 | $15.98 |
| Median | $31,370 | $2,614 | $15.08 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,300 | $2,275 | $13.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,080 | $3,090 | $17.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Food servers, nonrestaurant in Hickory earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($33,150) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($36,140). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $33,230 | $31,370 | $23,660 | $42,580 | 210 |
| North Carolina | $33,150 | $31,460 | $23,760 | $40,110 | 8,820 |
| United States | $36,140 | $35,360 | $28,030 | $46,120 | 293,900 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary after taxes in Hickory
On the average salary of $33,230, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $28,063 a year, or $2,339 a month and $1,079 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% 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 food servers, nonrestaurant? 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 $33,230 buys what about $37,554 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 8.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 6th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Goldsboro pays the most ($34,770).
- Goldsboro$34,770
- Asheville$34,750
- Raleigh$34,650
- Charlotte$34,610
- Wilmington$33,350
- Hickory$33,230
- Durham$33,170
- Greensboro$33,030
- Winston-Salem$32,670
- Pinehurst$31,550
Highest-paying cities for food servers, nonrestaurant
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($59,020).
- Kahului, HI$59,020
- San Jose, CA$50,590
- San Francisco, CA$48,600
- Napa, CA$48,550
- Vallejo, CA$46,710
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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Hickory: questions
How much do food servers, nonrestaurant make an hour in Hickory?
$15.98 an hour on average, and $15.08 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,660 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,300, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food servers, nonrestaurant take-home pay in Hickory?
About $28,063 a year ($2,339 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,230.
Do food servers, nonrestaurant earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% less than the U.S. average for this job ($36,140).
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 35-3041; area Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
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