Project Management Specialists pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $159,810 or more. The middle half of project management specialists in Hickory earn between $64,050 and $123,580.
- $53K10th
- $64K25th
- $85KMedian
- $124K75th
- $160K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $98,430 | $8,202 | $47.32 |
| Median | $85,490 | $7,124 | $41.10 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $64,050 | $5,338 | $30.79 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $123,580 | $10,298 | $59.41 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Project Management Specialists pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Project management specialists in Hickory earn 9% less than the North Carolina average ($107,630) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($110,740). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $102,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $98,430 | $85,490 | $52,840 | $159,810 | 490 |
| North Carolina | $107,630 | $100,820 | $61,570 | $164,050 | 36,200 |
| United States | $110,740 | $102,320 | $61,580 | $167,970 | 1,066,670 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Project Management Specialists salary after taxes in Hickory
On the average salary of $98,430, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $74,657 a year, or $6,221 a month and $2,871 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% 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 project management 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 $98,430 buys what about $111,238 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 2.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Project Management Specialists salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 6th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($115,430).
- Durham$115,430
- Raleigh$113,040
- Charlotte$111,260
- Greensboro$104,450
- Pinehurst$101,860
- Hickory$98,430
- Asheville$98,050
- Greenville$97,950
- Rocky Mount$97,840
- Wilmington$95,890
All Project Management Specialists salaries in North Carolina
Highest-paying cities for project management specialists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($146,170).
- San Jose, CA$146,170
- San Francisco, CA$140,820
- Seattle, WA$133,590
- New York, NY$131,730
- Washington, DC$129,050
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Project Management Specialists salary in Hickory: questions
How much do project management specialists make an hour in Hickory?
$47.32 an hour on average, and $41.10 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level project management specialists salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,050, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the project management specialists take-home pay in Hickory?
About $74,657 a year ($6,221 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $98,430.
Do project management specialists earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than the U.S. average for this job ($110,740).
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 13-1082; area Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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 0.46, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.46).
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