SOC 11-9032 · Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro

Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary Salary in Hickory, NC

The average salary for education administrators, kindergarten through secondary in Hickory, North Carolina is $85,600 a year, according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $81,750: half of the 290 people in this job in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 26% less than the U.S. average for this job ($116,100).

$85,600average per year

Median $81,750Take-home ≈ $66,143

  • $62K10th
  • $72K25th
  • $82KMedian
  • $98K75th
  • $113K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

290people in this job
-26%vs U.S. average
#10 of 15North Carolina metros
88cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary pay range in Hickory

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,090 a year or less, while the top 10% make $113,100 or more. The middle half of education administrators, kindergarten through secondary in Hickory earn between $72,230 and $97,850.

  • $62K10th
  • $72K25th
  • $82KMedian
  • $98K75th
  • $113K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$85,600$7,133—
Median$81,750$6,812—
Entry level (25th percentile)$72,230$6,019—
Experienced (75th percentile)$97,850$8,154—

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.

Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.

Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary in Hickory earn 6% less than the North Carolina average ($90,740) and 26% less than the U.S. average ($116,100). At the median the gap is -23% against the U.S. median of $105,870.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Hickory$85,600$81,750$62,090$113,100290
North Carolina$90,740$83,180$63,240$121,38011,220
United States$116,100$105,870$76,280$167,770328,330

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary salary after taxes in Hickory

On the average salary of $85,600, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $66,143 a year, or $5,512 a month and $2,544 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).

North Carolina paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Hickory a good place for education administrators, kindergarten through secondary? 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 $85,600 buys what about $96,738 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 3.2 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $85,600 is worth in another city

Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary salary in other North Carolina cities

Hickory ranks 10th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($97,850).

All Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary salaries in North Carolina

Highest-paying cities for education administrators, kindergarten through secondary

Bremerton, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($169,480).

Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary salary by city

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Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary salary in Hickory: questions

What is the entry-level education administrators, kindergarten through secondary salary in Hickory?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,090 a year and the 25th percentile is $72,230, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the education administrators, kindergarten through secondary take-home pay in Hickory?

About $66,143 a year ($5,512 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $85,600.

Do education administrators, kindergarten through secondary earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?

The average here is 26% less than the U.S. average for this job ($116,100).

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 11-9032; area Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
  • 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 0.90, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.

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