Mechanical Engineers pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $145,080 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in Hickory earn between $70,290 and $114,050.
- $61K10th
- $70K25th
- $90KMedian
- $114K75th
- $145K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $96,290 | $8,024 | $46.29 |
| Median | $89,960 | $7,497 | $43.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $70,290 | $5,858 | $33.79 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $114,050 | $9,504 | $54.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Engineers pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Mechanical engineers in Hickory earn 10% less than the North Carolina average ($107,350) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($113,610). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $104,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $96,290 | $89,960 | $61,320 | $145,080 | 250 |
| North Carolina | $107,350 | $100,720 | $71,260 | $155,550 | 9,560 |
| United States | $113,610 | $104,110 | $73,990 | $164,340 | 296,810 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Mechanical Engineers salary after taxes in Hickory
On the average salary of $96,290, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $73,237 a year, or $6,103 a month and $2,817 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for mechanical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $96,290 buys what about $108,819 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 2.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 15th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Asheville pays the most ($121,630).
- Asheville$121,630
- Durham$111,540
- Greensboro$110,500
- Charlotte$110,110
- Wilmington$109,790
- Fayetteville$107,330
- Greenville$106,690
- Raleigh$104,950
- Jacksonville$101,750
- Hickory$96,290
Highest-paying cities for mechanical engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($165,920).
- San Jose, CA$165,920
- San Francisco, CA$158,690
- Santa Cruz, CA$139,810
- Augusta, GA$137,040
- Baton Rouge, LA$136,970
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Mechanical Engineers salary in Hickory: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in Hickory?
$46.29 an hour on average, and $43.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $70,290, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in Hickory?
About $73,237 a year ($6,103 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $96,290.
Do mechanical engineers earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($113,610).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2141; area Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.84, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.