Tax Preparers pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,550 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,940 or more. The middle half of tax preparers in Hickory earn between $44,960 and $66,270.
- $30K10th
- $45K25th
- $48KMedian
- $66K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,200 | $4,433 | $25.58 |
| Median | $47,940 | $3,995 | $23.05 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,960 | $3,747 | $21.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $66,270 | $5,522 | $31.86 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Tax Preparers pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Tax preparers in Hickory earn 8% less than the North Carolina average ($57,820) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($60,930). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $54,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $53,200 | $47,940 | $29,550 | $76,940 | 80 |
| North Carolina | $57,820 | $48,130 | $35,480 | $97,720 | 2,710 |
| United States | $60,930 | $54,920 | $33,760 | $99,270 | 76,480 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Tax Preparers salary after taxes in Hickory
On the average salary of $53,200, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $43,312 a year, or $3,609 a month and $1,666 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 tax preparers? 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 $53,200 buys what about $60,123 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 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Tax Preparers salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 8th of 10 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($63,660).
- Charlotte$63,660
- Durham$61,570
- Asheville$57,430
- Wilmington$56,120
- Raleigh$55,450
- Fayetteville$55,320
- Greensboro$55,080
- Hickory$53,200
- Winston-Salem$53,040
- Jacksonville$49,710
Highest-paying cities for tax preparers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($84,300).
- San Francisco, CA$84,300
- San Jose, CA$83,550
- Kansas City, MO$82,540
- Anchorage, AK$77,620
- Jefferson City, MO$77,180
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Tax Preparers salary in Hickory: questions
How much do tax preparers make an hour in Hickory?
$25.58 an hour on average, and $23.05 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level tax preparers salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,550 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the tax preparers take-home pay in Hickory?
About $43,312 a year ($3,609 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,200.
Do tax preparers earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. average for this job ($60,930).
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 13-2082; area Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.4%.
- 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 1.03, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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