Printing Press Operators pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,110 a year or less, while the top 10% make $69,100 or more. The middle half of printing press operators in Hickory earn between $38,470 and $58,530.
- $36K10th
- $38K25th
- $49KMedian
- $59K75th
- $69K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $50,070 | $4,172 | $24.07 |
| Median | $48,980 | $4,082 | $23.55 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,470 | $3,206 | $18.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,530 | $4,878 | $28.14 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Printing Press Operators pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Printing press operators in Hickory earn 9% more than the North Carolina average ($45,840) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($47,360). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $45,780.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $50,070 | $48,980 | $36,110 | $69,100 | 250 |
| North Carolina | $45,840 | $45,630 | $29,600 | $62,010 | 3,910 |
| United States | $47,360 | $45,780 | $33,330 | $63,520 | 144,260 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Printing Press Operators salary after taxes in Hickory
On the average salary of $50,070, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $40,922 a year, or $3,410 a month and $1,574 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 printing press operators? 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 $50,070 buys what about $56,585 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 5.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Printing Press Operators salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 1st of 12 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Hickory$50,070
- Greenville$48,900
- Asheville$48,470
- Burlington$48,320
- Durham$46,870
- Winston-Salem$46,700
- Raleigh$46,650
- Greensboro$45,680
- Charlotte$44,800
- Fayetteville$42,890
Highest-paying cities for printing press operators
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($60,820).
- Washington, DC$60,820
- Staunton, VA$56,800
- Napa, CA$56,790
- Rochester, MN$56,720
- Seattle, WA$56,140
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Printing Press Operators salary in Hickory: questions
How much do printing press operators make an hour in Hickory?
$24.07 an hour on average, and $23.55 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level printing press operators salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,110 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,470, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the printing press operators take-home pay in Hickory?
About $40,922 a year ($3,410 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $50,070.
Do printing press operators earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% more than the U.S. average for this job ($47,360).
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 51-5112; area Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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 1.77, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.