Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Hickory, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Median annual salary $43,420 -5% vs national
Median hourly $20.88
10th percentile $31,430
90th percentile $57,970
Employed locally 610
National median $45,700

Compare Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary & buying power

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Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
in
Hickory, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,430
    25th
    $36,260
    50th (median)
    $43,420
    75th
    $47,420
    90th
    $57,970

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary vs area income 72% Median Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary is 28% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $65,560
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $60,480
    Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area $59,920
    Ames, IA $59,540
    Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area $58,960
    Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area $58,590

    Nearby metros — Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Wilmington, NC $54,190
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $52,770
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $52,000
    Manchester-Nashua, NH $51,810
    Lancaster, PA $50,950
    Florence, SC $48,360

    Related occupations in Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$38,670
    Upholsterers$59,400
    Sewing Machine Operators$46,360
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$63,280
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$41,340
    Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$52,150

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make per hour in Hickory?

    The median hourly wage for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Hickory, NC is $20.88, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $28.18 or more per hour.

    Is Hickory above or below average for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salaries?

    The median Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in Hickory, NC is 5% below the national median of $45,700. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Hickory?

    Entry-level Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $31,430 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,260.