Health Education Specialists pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $86,030 or more. The middle half of health education specialists in Hickory earn between $49,090 and $65,190.
- $41K10th
- $49K25th
- $58KMedian
- $65K75th
- $86K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,440 | $4,870 | $28.10 |
| Median | $58,450 | $4,871 | $28.10 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,090 | $4,091 | $23.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $65,190 | $5,432 | $31.34 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Health Education Specialists pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Health education specialists in Hickory earn 11% less than the North Carolina average ($65,570) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($73,280). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $64,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $58,440 | $58,450 | $41,080 | $86,030 | 60 |
| North Carolina | $65,570 | $58,080 | $44,410 | $99,140 | 2,110 |
| United States | $73,280 | $64,070 | $42,990 | $118,200 | 65,690 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Health Education Specialists salary after taxes in Hickory
On the average salary of $58,440, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $47,314 a year, or $3,943 a month and $1,820 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 health education specialists? 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 $58,440 buys what about $66,044 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Health Education Specialists salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 8th of 10 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($87,450).
- Durham$87,450
- Raleigh$66,620
- Asheville$64,950
- Wilmington$63,270
- Charlotte$62,590
- Greensboro$60,020
- Fayetteville$58,890
- Hickory$58,440
- Greenville$57,320
- Winston-Salem$55,470
Highest-paying cities for health education specialists
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($120,000).
- Washington, DC$120,000
- Atlanta, GA$109,350
- San Francisco, CA$97,750
- Eugene, OR$96,470
- San Jose, CA$92,350
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Health Education Specialists salary in Hickory: questions
How much do health education specialists make an hour in Hickory?
$28.10 an hour on average, and $28.10 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level health education specialists salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,090, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the health education specialists take-home pay in Hickory?
About $47,314 a year ($3,943 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,440.
Do health education specialists earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% less than the U.S. average for this job ($73,280).
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 21-1091; area Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 0.96, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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