High paying production jobs in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC with no degree

The best paid production occupations in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC that require no bachelor's degree — a high school diploma, a certificate, or an associate's degree is the typical entry. This is the narrowest cut on the site, so it is also the shortest list: where a field has only two or three such occupations, there is no page at all rather than a page pretending otherwise.

Cost of living: prices in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC run 11.5% below the national average (2024), so a Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC salary is worth about 1.13× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find production jobs in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

OccupationMedian, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$64,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,850 – $95,5701,760
2Tool and Die Makers$63,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,120 – $74,120110
3Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$61,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,110 – $70,88070
4Upholsterers$59,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,520 – $76,9702,220
5Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$53,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,460 – $59,460940
6Food Batchmakers$53,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,310 – $53,170180
7Cutters and Trimmers, Hand$49,200
No formal educational credential
$39,030 – $62,040590
8Printing Press Operators$48,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,110 – $69,100250
9Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,060 – $58,380600
10Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,920 – $59,340270
11Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers$48,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,710 – $64,650150
12Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,590 – $61,810520
13Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$47,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,030 – $64,9901,340
14Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$46,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,430 – $61,620160
15Sewing Machine Operators$46,540
No formal educational credential
$30,280 – $60,1501,860
16Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$46,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,790 – $62,130450
17Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$46,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,210 – $61,140170
18Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$45,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,230 – $58,580240
19Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$44,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,260 – $58,620590
20Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,720 – $63,360130
21Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$44,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,720 – $57,570200
22Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$43,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,360 – $54,020270
23Machinists$43,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,440 – $59,550460
24Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$43,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,350 – $58,3001,710
25Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$42,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,710 – $57,6503,190
26Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$41,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,880 – $56,350180
27Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$41,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,200 – $50,270930
28Furniture Finishers$40,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,910 – $54,940290
29Helpers--Production Workers$39,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,620 – $50,580640
30Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$39,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,900 – $54,580100
31Food Processing Workers, All Other$39,150
No formal educational credential
$30,150 – $41,82070
32Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders$38,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,210 – $47,380120
33Production Workers, All Other$38,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,310 – $57,2401,400
34Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$38,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,230 – $60,310580
35Butchers and Meat Cutters$38,370
No formal educational credential
$30,370 – $48,36060
36Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$38,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,180 – $50,380720
37Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other$37,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,400 – $50,250230
38Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood$37,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,300 – $48,330240
39Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand$36,680
No formal educational credential
$35,600 – $42,090110
40Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$36,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,070 – $46,880430
41Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers$35,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,890 – $47,000190
42Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$34,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,660 – $43,370300
43Bakers$34,380
No formal educational credential
$27,560 – $45,510240
44Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders$33,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,770 – $42,140390
45Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$32,000
No formal educational credential
$26,770 – $35,730200
46Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials$29,360
No formal educational credential
$23,960 – $34,50050

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianHickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,910	$45,850 – $95,570	1,760
2	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,230	$46,120 – $74,120	110
3	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,140	$41,110 – $70,880	70
4	UpholsterersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,700	$44,520 – $76,970	2,220
5	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,800	$46,460 – $59,460	940
6	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,160	$30,310 – $53,170	180
7	Cutters and Trimmers, HandNo formal educational credential	$49,200	$39,030 – $62,040	590
8	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,980	$36,110 – $69,100	250
9	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,740	$37,060 – $58,380	600
10	Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,640	$36,920 – $59,340	270
11	Fabric and Apparel PatternmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,380	$35,710 – $64,650	150
12	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,230	$36,590 – $61,810	520
13	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,940	$43,030 – $64,990	1,340
14	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,630	$35,430 – $61,620	160
15	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$46,540	$30,280 – $60,150	1,860
16	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,080	$37,790 – $62,130	450
17	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,080	$36,210 – $61,140	170
18	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,440	$34,230 – $58,580	240
19	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,940	$35,260 – $58,620	590
20	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,920	$37,720 – $63,360	130
21	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,800	$38,720 – $57,570	200
22	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,590	$35,360 – $54,020	270
23	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,430	$37,440 – $59,550	460
24	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,140	$35,350 – $58,300	1,710
25	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,770	$30,710 – $57,650	3,190
26	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,240	$35,880 – $56,350	180
27	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,150	$30,200 – $50,270	930
28	Furniture FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,000	$35,910 – $54,940	290
29	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,410	$34,620 – $50,580	640
30	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,300	$35,900 – $54,580	100
31	Food Processing Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$39,150	$30,150 – $41,820	70
32	Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,990	$31,210 – $47,380	120
33	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,720	$31,310 – $57,240	1,400
34	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,370	$30,230 – $60,310	580
35	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$38,370	$30,370 – $48,360	60
36	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,310	$31,180 – $50,380	720
37	Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,370	$26,400 – $50,250	230
38	Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,070	$29,300 – $48,330	240
39	Grinding and Polishing Workers, HandNo formal educational credential	$36,680	$35,600 – $42,090	110
40	Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,200	$28,070 – $46,880	430
41	Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,890	$35,890 – $47,000	190
42	Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,940	$29,660 – $43,370	300
43	BakersNo formal educational credential	$34,380	$27,560 – $45,510	240
44	Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33,870	$29,770 – $42,140	390
45	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$32,000	$26,770 – $35,730	200
46	Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related MaterialsNo formal educational credential	$29,360	$23,960 – $34,500	50

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC to rank honestly.

High paying production jobs in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC with no degree

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