Tool and Die Makers pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,120 a year or less, while the top 10% make $74,120 or more. The middle half of tool and die makers in Hickory earn between $50,530 and $68,820.
- $46K10th
- $51K25th
- $63KMedian
- $69K75th
- $74K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,460 | $5,122 | $29.55 |
| Median | $63,230 | $5,269 | $30.40 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,530 | $4,211 | $24.29 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $68,820 | $5,735 | $33.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Tool and Die Makers pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Tool and die makers in Hickory earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($60,950) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($66,860). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $64,050.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $61,460 | $63,230 | $46,120 | $74,120 | 110 |
| North Carolina | $60,950 | $61,060 | $43,770 | $79,180 | 1,580 |
| United States | $66,860 | $64,050 | $44,680 | $92,680 | 56,930 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Tool and Die Makers salary after taxes in Hickory
On the average salary of $61,460, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $49,620 a year, or $4,135 a month and $1,908 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 tool and die makers? 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 $61,460 buys what about $69,457 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Tool and Die Makers salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 4th of 7 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Burlington pays the most ($69,750).
- Burlington$69,750
- Charlotte$62,830
- Asheville$62,190
- Hickory$61,460
- Greensboro$60,930
- Raleigh$59,100
- Winston-Salem$58,340
Highest-paying cities for tool and die makers
Seattle, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($107,510).
- Seattle, WA$107,510
- San Francisco, CA$90,660
- Albany, NY$83,480
- San Diego, CA$80,280
- Wichita, KS$80,080
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Tool and Die Makers salary in Hickory: questions
How much do tool and die makers make an hour in Hickory?
$29.55 an hour on average, and $30.40 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level tool and die makers salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,120 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,530, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the tool and die makers take-home pay in Hickory?
About $49,620 a year ($4,135 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,460.
Do tool and die makers earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,860).
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 51-4111; 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 1.92, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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