Upholsterers pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,970 or more. The middle half of upholsterers in Hickory earn between $48,510 and $62,710.
- $45K10th
- $49K25th
- $60KMedian
- $63K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,120 | $4,843 | $27.94 |
| Median | $59,700 | $4,975 | $28.70 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,510 | $4,042 | $23.32 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $62,710 | $5,226 | $30.15 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Upholsterers pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Upholsterers in Hickory earn 8% more than the North Carolina average ($53,890) and 23% more than the U.S. average ($47,340). At the median the gap is +29% against the U.S. median of $46,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $58,120 | $59,700 | $44,520 | $76,970 | 2,220 |
| North Carolina | $53,890 | $50,600 | $38,270 | $74,490 | 4,050 |
| United States | $47,340 | $46,340 | $31,690 | $63,770 | 20,140 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Upholsterers salary after taxes in Hickory
On the average salary of $58,120, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $47,069 a year, or $3,922 a month and $1,810 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 upholsterers? 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 $58,120 buys what about $65,683 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Upholsterers salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 1st of 5 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Hickory$58,120
- Durham$54,910
- Greensboro$49,870
- Raleigh$45,190
- Winston-Salem$42,310
Highest-paying cities for upholsterers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($67,380).
- San Jose, CA$67,380
- Seattle, WA$66,720
- Bridgeport, CT$61,350
- San Francisco, CA$59,910
- Providence, RI$58,700
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Upholsterers salary in Hickory: questions
How much do upholsterers make an hour in Hickory?
$27.94 an hour on average, and $28.70 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level upholsterers salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the upholsterers take-home pay in Hickory?
About $47,069 a year ($3,922 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,120.
Do upholsterers earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% more than the U.S. average for this job ($47,340).
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 51-6093; area Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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 111.23, this job is 111.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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