Human Resources Specialists Salary in Hickory, NC

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

Median annual salary $61,480 -15.7% vs national
Median hourly $29.56
10th percentile $43,760
90th percentile $101,700
Employed locally 610
National median $72,910

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Human Resources Specialists
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Hickory, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $43,760
    25th
    $49,770
    50th (median)
    $61,480
    75th
    $78,580
    90th
    $101,700

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Human Resources Specialists salary vs area income 102% Median Human Resources Specialists salary is 2% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Human Resources Specialists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $114,080
    District of Columbia $102,500
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $100,600
    Lexington Park, MD $97,490
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $97,340
    Parkersburg-Vienna, WV $89,860

    Nearby metros — Human Resources Specialists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $100,600
    Lawrence, KS $79,950
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $79,120
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $77,860
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $77,050
    Winchester, VA-WV $77,040

    Related occupations in Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Accountants and Auditors $77,190
    Business Operations Specialists, All Other $64,480
    Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $69,160
    Training and Development Specialists $50,060
    Buyers and Purchasing Agents $61,130
    Project Management Specialists $92,580

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Human Resources Specialists make per hour in Hickory?

    The median hourly wage for Human Resources Specialists in Hickory, NC is $29.56, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $49.16 or more per hour.

    Is Hickory above or below average for Human Resources Specialists salaries?

    The median Human Resources Specialists salary in Hickory, NC is 15.7% below the national median of $72,910. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Human Resources Specialists in Hickory?

    Entry-level Human Resources Specialists (10th percentile) earn around $43,760 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $49,770.