Recreation Workers pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,560 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,600 or more. The middle half of recreation workers in Hickory earn between $27,420 and $38,280.
- $23K10th
- $27K25th
- $31KMedian
- $38K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,680 | $2,807 | $16.19 |
| Median | $31,280 | $2,607 | $15.04 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,420 | $2,285 | $13.18 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,280 | $3,190 | $18.40 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreation Workers pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Recreation workers in Hickory earn 4% less than the North Carolina average ($35,250) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($38,520). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $36,560.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $33,680 | $31,280 | $22,560 | $46,600 | 220 |
| North Carolina | $35,250 | $32,720 | $22,060 | $50,810 | 9,520 |
| United States | $38,520 | $36,560 | $27,600 | $50,410 | 331,490 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Recreation Workers salary after taxes in Hickory
On the average salary of $33,680, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $28,407 a year, or $2,367 a month and $1,093 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% 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 recreation workers? 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 $33,680 buys what about $38,063 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 8.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreation Workers salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 12th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Asheville pays the most ($39,420).
- Asheville$39,420
- Wilmington$37,140
- Raleigh$35,990
- Goldsboro$35,830
- Fayetteville$35,610
- Pinehurst$35,610
- Burlington$35,260
- Durham$35,140
- Charlotte$34,490
- Hickory$33,680
Highest-paying cities for recreation workers
Fairbanks, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($61,070).
- Fairbanks, AK$61,070
- San Jose, CA$54,750
- San Francisco, CA$48,810
- Seattle, WA$47,840
- Bozeman, MT$47,520
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Recreation Workers salary in Hickory: questions
How much do recreation workers make an hour in Hickory?
$16.19 an hour on average, and $15.04 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreation workers salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,560 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,420, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreation workers take-home pay in Hickory?
About $28,407 a year ($2,367 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,680.
Do recreation workers earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,520).
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 39-9032; 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 0.66, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.66).
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