Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Hickory, NC

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

Median annual salary $41,100 +0.5% vs national
Median hourly $19.76
10th percentile $33,390
90th percentile $52,050
Employed locally 850
National median $40,900

Compare Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary & buying power

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

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Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
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Hickory, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,390
    25th
    $39,350
    50th (median)
    $41,100
    75th
    $48,160
    90th
    $52,050

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 68% Median Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary is 32% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Manchester-Nashua, NH $79,300
    Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $77,290
    Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $65,840
    Cedar Rapids, IA $65,570
    Harrisonburg, VA $63,370
    Williamsport, PA $62,930

    Nearby metros — Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Manchester-Nashua, NH $79,300
    Lynchburg, VA $59,180
    Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $55,890
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $54,400
    Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $49,340
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $48,770

    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 Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders make per hour in Hickory?

    The median hourly wage for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders in Hickory, NC is $19.76, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $24.17 or more per hour.

    Is Hickory above or below average for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salaries?

    The median Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Hickory, NC is 0.5% above the national median of $40,900. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders in Hickory?

    Entry-level Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $33,390 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $39,350.