SOC 19-2031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chemists — Hickory
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC · 8 metro areas compared
In Hickory, NC the median wage is $80,860.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Hickory, NC the median wage is $80,860. That is 11.4% lower than the national median of $91,240. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $65,660 and $96,670. The lowest tenth earn under $54,530, while the highest tenth earn more than $116,850.
The area has 110 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.37 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Winston-Salem leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $98,090. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 61st of 385 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $54,530 | −40.2% |
| 25th | $65,660 | −28.0% |
| Median (50th) | $80,860 | −11.4% |
| 75th | $96,670 | +6.0% |
| 90th | $116,850 | +28.1% |
| Mean | $83,760 | −8.2% |
Other metro areas in North Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winston-Salem | $98,090 | 240 | |
| 2 | Greensboro | $97,690 | 300 | |
| 3 | Fayetteville | $92,080 | 30 | |
| 4 | Charlotte | $88,890 | 650 | |
| 5 | Raleigh | $84,150 | 740 | |
| 6 | Durham | $81,580 | 1,140 | |
| 7 | Wilmington | $78,130 | 400 | |
| 8 | Asheville | $66,910 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Hickory run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $80,860 goes as far as $85,748 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$80,860as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$85,748US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $80,860 a year, 11.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $54,530 to $116,850 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 110 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Winston-Salem, at $98,090.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chemists in Hickory, NC?
The median annual wage is $80,860, or $38.88 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $91,240, so pay in Hickory, NC is 11.4% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Hickory, NC earns more than $116,850 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $54,530 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Winston-Salem, at $98,090 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 110 jobs in this occupation in Hickory, NC. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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