SOC 25-2052 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — Hickory
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC · 10 metro areas compared
In Hickory, NC the median wage is $54,350.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Hickory, NC the median wage is $54,350. That is 16.5% lower than the national median of $65,120. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $44,510 and $57,630. The lowest tenth earn under $44,150, while the highest tenth earn more than $59,270.
Employment stands at 120, or 0.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Charlotte leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $61,050. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 162nd of 385 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,150 | −32.2% |
| 25th | $44,510 | −31.6% |
| Median (50th) | $54,350 | −16.5% |
| 75th | $57,630 | −11.5% |
| 90th | $59,270 | −9.0% |
| Mean | $51,830 | −20.4% |
Other metro areas in North Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlotte | $61,050 | 1,390 | |
| 2 | Raleigh | $60,860 | 1,360 | |
| 3 | Greensboro | $60,000 | 270 | |
| 4 | Durham | $58,260 | 330 | |
| 5 | Greenville | $55,970 | 90 | |
| 6 | Fayetteville | $55,820 | 180 | |
| 7 | Winston-Salem | $55,750 | 130 | |
| 8 | Burlington | $53,920 | 70 | |
| 9 | Jacksonville | $53,660 | 130 | |
| 10 | Goldsboro | $50,420 | 70 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Hickory run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $54,350 goes as far as $57,635 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$54,350as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$57,635US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $54,350 a year, 16.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $44,150 to $59,270 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 120 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Charlotte, at $61,050.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Hickory, NC?
The median annual wage is $54,350, 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 $65,120, so pay in Hickory, NC is 16.5% 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 $59,270 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $44,150 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 Charlotte, at $61,050 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 120 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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