Machinists Salary in Hickory, NC

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

Median annual salary $47,720 -15% vs national
Median hourly $22.94
10th percentile $36,880
90th percentile $68,320
Employed locally 340
National median $56,150

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Machinists
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Hickory, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,880
    25th
    $45,160
    50th (median)
    $47,720
    75th
    $57,680
    90th
    $68,320

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Machinists salary vs area income 79% Median Machinists salary is 21% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Machinists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $101,810
    Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area $85,530
    Bloomington, IL $81,240
    Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $80,150
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $78,580
    Barnstable Town, MA $77,650

    Nearby metros — Machinists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $80,150
    Anchorage, AK $73,130
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $66,320
    Fayetteville, NC $62,590
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $62,350
    Lynchburg, VA $61,710

    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 Machinists make per hour in Hickory?

    The median hourly wage for Machinists in Hickory, NC is $22.94, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $28.63 or more per hour.

    Is Hickory above or below average for Machinists salaries?

    The median Machinists salary in Hickory, NC is 15% below the national median of $56,150. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Machinists in Hickory?

    Entry-level Machinists (10th percentile) earn around $36,880 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $45,160.