Nursing Assistants pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,860 or more. The middle half of nursing assistants in Hickory earn between $36,530 and $39,820.
- $31K10th
- $37K25th
- $37KMedian
- $40K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,960 | $3,163 | $18.25 |
| Median | $37,430 | $3,119 | $18.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,530 | $3,044 | $17.56 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $39,820 | $3,318 | $19.14 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Nursing Assistants pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Nursing assistants in Hickory earn 3% less than the North Carolina average ($39,280) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($42,700). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $42,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $37,960 | $37,430 | $31,240 | $44,860 | 2,780 |
| North Carolina | $39,280 | $38,460 | $30,260 | $47,080 | 64,010 |
| United States | $42,700 | $42,260 | $33,940 | $51,980 | 1,448,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Nursing Assistants salary after taxes in Hickory
On the average salary of $37,960, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $31,675 a year, or $2,640 a month and $1,218 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% 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 nursing assistants? 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 $37,960 buys what about $42,899 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 7.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Nursing Assistants salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 10th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($42,540).
- Durham$42,540
- Asheville$41,500
- Charlotte$41,410
- Raleigh$40,460
- Winston-Salem$39,270
- Burlington$39,150
- Greensboro$38,650
- Greenville$38,270
- Wilmington$38,100
- Hickory$37,960
Highest-paying cities for nursing assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($59,370).
- San Jose, CA$59,370
- San Francisco, CA$56,700
- Seattle, WA$55,220
- Grants Pass, OR$52,720
- Portland, OR$52,660
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Nursing Assistants salary in Hickory: questions
How much do nursing assistants make an hour in Hickory?
$18.25 an hour on average, and $18.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level nursing assistants salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,530, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the nursing assistants take-home pay in Hickory?
About $31,675 a year ($2,640 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,960.
Do nursing assistants earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than the U.S. average for this job ($42,700).
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 31-1131; area Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- 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 1.94, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.