Healthcare Social Workers pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,590 a year or less, while the top 10% make $74,510 or more. The middle half of healthcare social workers in Hickory earn between $53,170 and $68,330.
- $47K10th
- $53K25th
- $61KMedian
- $68K75th
- $75K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $60,350 | $5,029 | $29.01 |
| Median | $60,570 | $5,048 | $29.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $53,170 | $4,431 | $25.56 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $68,330 | $5,694 | $32.85 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Healthcare Social Workers pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Healthcare social workers in Hickory earn 7% less than the North Carolina average ($64,720) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($71,790). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $67,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $60,350 | $60,570 | $46,590 | $74,510 | 150 |
| North Carolina | $64,720 | $63,280 | $40,650 | $85,070 | 5,120 |
| United States | $71,790 | $67,880 | $46,220 | $100,360 | 187,630 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Healthcare Social Workers salary after taxes in Hickory
On the average salary of $60,350, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $48,772 a year, or $4,064 a month and $1,876 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 healthcare social workers? 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 $60,350 buys what about $68,203 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 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Healthcare Social Workers salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 12th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($72,150).
- Durham$72,150
- Raleigh$69,630
- Charlotte$66,770
- Greenville$64,550
- Winston-Salem$63,940
- Asheville$63,810
- Rocky Mount$63,650
- Wilmington$62,670
- Goldsboro$62,320
- Hickory$60,350
Highest-paying cities for healthcare social workers
Napa, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($129,130).
- Napa, CA$129,130
- San Luis Obispo, CA$112,750
- Vallejo, CA$112,700
- San Jose, CA$108,280
- Santa Rosa, CA$106,760
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Healthcare Social Workers salary in Hickory: questions
How much do healthcare social workers make an hour in Hickory?
$29.01 an hour on average, and $29.12 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level healthcare social workers salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,590 a year and the 25th percentile is $53,170, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the healthcare social workers take-home pay in Hickory?
About $48,772 a year ($4,064 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $60,350.
Do healthcare social workers earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% less than the U.S. average for this job ($71,790).
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 21-1022; area Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.4%.
- 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 0.82, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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