Mechanical Engineers Salary in Hickory, NC

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

Median annual salary $84,450 -17.5% vs national
Median hourly $40.60
10th percentile $59,940
90th percentile $137,280
Employed locally 240
National median $102,320

Compare Mechanical Engineers salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Hickory, NC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Mechanical Engineers
in
Hickory, NC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $59,940
    25th
    $68,080
    50th (median)
    $84,450
    75th
    $110,990
    90th
    $137,280

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Mechanical Engineers salary vs area income 140% Median Mechanical Engineers salary is 40% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Mechanical Engineers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area $181,480
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $147,730
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $145,640
    New Mexico $141,490
    Salinas, CA $141,420
    Baton Rouge, LA $132,850

    Nearby metros — Mechanical Engineers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $145,640
    Anchorage, AK $129,990
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $110,390
    Jacksonville, NC $106,850
    Greensboro-High Point, NC $106,430
    Manchester-Nashua, NH $105,280

    Related occupations in Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Industrial Engineers $80,560
    Electrical Engineers $103,960
    Civil Engineers $88,530
    Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians $56,350
    Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians $76,440
    Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other $69,030

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Mechanical Engineers make per hour in Hickory?

    The median hourly wage for Mechanical Engineers in Hickory, NC is $40.60, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $69.75 or more per hour.

    Is Hickory above or below average for Mechanical Engineers salaries?

    The median Mechanical Engineers salary in Hickory, NC is 17.5% below the national median of $102,320. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Mechanical Engineers in Hickory?

    Entry-level Mechanical Engineers (10th percentile) earn around $59,940 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $68,080.