Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Each occupation's median wage in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 high paying jobs in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

OccupationMedian, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC · vs. national

1Chief Executives$312,730
Bachelor's degree
$129,980 – $520,540+46.1%
2Cutters and Trimmers, Hand$49,200
No formal educational credential
$39,030 – $62,040+29.4%
3Upholsterers$59,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,520 – $76,970+28.8%
4Sewing Machine Operators$46,540
No formal educational credential
$30,280 – $60,150+26.9%
5Food Batchmakers$53,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,310 – $53,170+25.7%
6Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,920 – $59,340+25.5%
7Physicians, All Other$313,460
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,590 – $400,830+17.9%
8Dentists, General$193,320
Doctoral or professional degree
$119,840 – $312,820+13.1%
9Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$53,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,460 – $59,460+12.7%
10Computer Network Support Specialists$85,780
Associate's degree
$37,550 – $124,450+12.5%
11Postal Service Clerks$68,540
No formal educational credential
$55,350 – $76,360+10.3%
12Loan Interviewers and Clerks$54,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,420 – $59,460+9.2%
13Printing Press Operators$48,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,110 – $69,100+7.0%
14First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$92,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,970 – $177,740+5.9%
15Psychiatric Technicians$47,340
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,630 – $51,990+4.9%
16Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$47,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,030 – $64,990+4.6%
17Facilities Managers$111,610
Bachelor's degree
$73,130 – $172,600+4.6%
18Rehabilitation Counselors$49,010
Master's degree
$31,350 – $60,670+4.6%
19First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$50,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,770 – $77,210+4.5%
20Food Service Managers$72,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,940 – $96,600+4.0%
21Emergency Medical Technicians$46,020
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,190 – $65,270+3.5%
22Stockers and Order Fillers$38,130
No formal educational credential
$29,460 – $49,580+2.1%
23Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders$38,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,210 – $47,380+2.1%
24Engineers, All Other$125,160
Bachelor's degree
$72,230 – $151,820+1.8%
25Dental Assistants$48,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,830 – $57,610+1.4%
26Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents$63,180
Bachelor's degree
$46,970 – $95,650+1.3%
27Helpers--Production Workers$39,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,620 – $50,580+0.9%
28Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,720
Associate's degree
$54,900 – $98,350+0.7%
29Child, Family, and School Social Workers$59,840
Bachelor's degree
$43,930 – $77,770+0.5%
30Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other$37,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,400 – $50,250+0.2%
31Maintenance Workers, Machinery$60,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,550 – $76,390+0.1%
32Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,590 – $61,8100.0%
33Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$40,240
No formal educational credential
$30,520 – $47,5900.0%
34Occupational Therapists$100,160
Master's degree
$69,480 – $118,410-0.2%
35Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$62,710
Bachelor's degree
$39,900 – $86,820-0.3%
36Architectural and Engineering Managers$170,730
Bachelor's degree
$118,280 – $219,020-0.3%
37Physical Therapists$101,950
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,690 – $123,220-0.8%
38Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$77,590
Associate's degree
$54,500 – $85,830-1.0%
39Packers and Packagers, Hand$35,840
No formal educational credential
$27,940 – $44,310-1.2%
40Tool and Die Makers$63,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,120 – $74,120-1.3%
41Food Processing Workers, All Other$39,150
No formal educational credential
$30,150 – $41,820-1.3%
42Industrial Production Managers$124,290
Bachelor's degree
$76,970 – $200,520-1.4%
43Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$35,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$27,120 – $59,180-1.9%
44Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$57,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,640 – $78,410-2.0%
45Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$64,860
Bachelor's degree
$48,360 – $75,180-2.1%
46Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$44,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,720 – $57,570-2.1%
47Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$72,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,160 – $86,050-2.2%
48Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$102,460
Bachelor's degree
$47,150 – $208,070-2.3%
49Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$47,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,970 – $67,310-2.3%
50Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$62,380
Bachelor's degree
$48,170 – $74,550-2.3%

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	vs. national
1	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$312,730	$129,980 – $520,540	+46.1%
2	Cutters and Trimmers, HandNo formal educational credential	$49,200	$39,030 – $62,040	+29.4%
3	UpholsterersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,700	$44,520 – $76,970	+28.8%
4	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$46,540	$30,280 – $60,150	+26.9%
5	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,160	$30,310 – $53,170	+25.7%
6	Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,640	$36,920 – $59,340	+25.5%
7	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$313,460	$62,590 – $400,830	+17.9%
8	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$193,320	$119,840 – $312,820	+13.1%
9	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,800	$46,460 – $59,460	+12.7%
10	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$85,780	$37,550 – $124,450	+12.5%
11	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$68,540	$55,350 – $76,360	+10.3%
12	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,620	$40,420 – $59,460	+9.2%
13	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,980	$36,110 – $69,100	+7.0%
14	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,660	$54,970 – $177,740	+5.9%
15	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,340	$34,630 – $51,990	+4.9%
16	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,940	$43,030 – $64,990	+4.6%
17	Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree	$111,610	$73,130 – $172,600	+4.6%
18	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$49,010	$31,350 – $60,670	+4.6%
19	First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,760	$30,770 – $77,210	+4.5%
20	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,140	$47,940 – $96,600	+4.0%
21	Emergency Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,020	$35,190 – $65,270	+3.5%
22	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$38,130	$29,460 – $49,580	+2.1%
23	Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,990	$31,210 – $47,380	+2.1%
24	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$125,160	$72,230 – $151,820	+1.8%
25	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,720	$37,830 – $57,610	+1.4%
26	Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue AgentsBachelor's degree	$63,180	$46,970 – $95,650	+1.3%
27	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,410	$34,620 – $50,580	+0.9%
28	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,720	$54,900 – $98,350	+0.7%
29	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$59,840	$43,930 – $77,770	+0.5%
30	Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,370	$26,400 – $50,250	+0.2%
31	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,940	$44,550 – $76,390	+0.1%
32	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,230	$36,590 – $61,810	0.0%
33	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$40,240	$30,520 – $47,590	0.0%
34	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$100,160	$69,480 – $118,410	-0.2%
35	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$62,710	$39,900 – $86,820	-0.3%
36	Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree	$170,730	$118,280 – $219,020	-0.3%
37	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$101,950	$78,690 – $123,220	-0.8%
38	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$77,590	$54,500 – $85,830	-1.0%
39	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$35,840	$27,940 – $44,310	-1.2%
40	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,230	$46,120 – $74,120	-1.3%
41	Food Processing Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$39,150	$30,150 – $41,820	-1.3%
42	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$124,290	$76,970 – $200,520	-1.4%
43	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$35,100	$27,120 – $59,180	-1.9%
44	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,460	$40,640 – $78,410	-2.0%
45	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$64,860	$48,360 – $75,180	-2.1%
46	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,800	$38,720 – $57,570	-2.1%
47	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,480	$47,160 – $86,050	-2.2%
48	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$102,460	$47,150 – $208,070	-2.3%
49	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,560	$37,970 – $67,310	-2.3%
50	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$62,380	$48,170 – $74,550	-2.3%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

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