Machinists pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,550 or more. The middle half of machinists in Hickory earn between $41,990 and $48,580.
- $37K10th
- $42K25th
- $43KMedian
- $49K75th
- $60K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $47,050 | $3,921 | $22.62 |
| Median | $43,430 | $3,619 | $20.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $41,990 | $3,499 | $20.19 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,580 | $4,048 | $23.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Machinists pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Machinists in Hickory earn 14% less than the North Carolina average ($54,880) and 21% less than the U.S. average ($59,320). At the median the gap is -26% against the U.S. median of $58,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $47,050 | $43,430 | $37,440 | $59,550 | 460 |
| North Carolina | $54,880 | $55,230 | $37,110 | $75,570 | 8,330 |
| United States | $59,320 | $58,750 | $39,200 | $80,010 | 287,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Machinists salary after taxes in Hickory
On the average salary of $47,050, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $38,616 a year, or $3,218 a month and $1,485 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 machinists? 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 $47,050 buys what about $53,172 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Machinists salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 15th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Fayetteville pays the most ($64,270).
- Fayetteville$64,270
- Wilmington$61,550
- Rocky Mount$59,160
- Charlotte$58,820
- Raleigh$58,670
- Jacksonville$58,390
- Pinehurst$55,970
- Goldsboro$55,040
- Burlington$54,790
- Hickory$47,050
Highest-paying cities for machinists
Honolulu, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($81,140).
- Honolulu, HI$81,140
- Bremerton, WA$79,720
- Barnstable, MA$77,800
- Florence, AL$77,420
- San Francisco, CA$76,240
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Machinists salary in Hickory: questions
How much do machinists make an hour in Hickory?
$22.62 an hour on average, and $20.88 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level machinists salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $41,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the machinists take-home pay in Hickory?
About $38,616 a year ($3,218 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,050.
Do machinists earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% less than the U.S. average for this job ($59,320).
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 51-4041; area Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 1.63, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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