Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,010 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,080 or more. The middle half of kindergarten teachers (except special education) in Hickory earn between $53,400 and $54,910.
- $43K10th
- $53K25th
- $55KMedian
- $55K75th
- $58K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,010 | $4,418 | — |
| Median | $54,520 | $4,543 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $53,400 | $4,450 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $54,910 | $4,576 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Kindergarten teachers (except special education) in Hickory earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($53,120) and 24% less than the U.S. average ($69,370). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $62,680.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $53,010 | $54,520 | $43,010 | $58,080 | 60 |
| North Carolina | $53,120 | $53,180 | $40,760 | $63,620 | 2,250 |
| United States | $69,370 | $62,680 | $46,990 | $101,830 | 108,870 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary after taxes in Hickory
On the average salary of $53,010, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $43,167 a year, or $3,597 a month and $1,660 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 kindergarten teachers (except special education)? 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 $53,010 buys what about $59,908 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 5th of 11 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($60,730).
- Charlotte$60,730
- Asheville$56,760
- Raleigh$55,600
- Durham$53,190
- Hickory$53,010
- Winston-Salem$52,720
- Burlington$52,650
- Greensboro$52,590
- Pinehurst$51,300
- Greenville$51,070
All Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salaries in North Carolina
Highest-paying cities for kindergarten teachers (except special education)
Modesto, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($107,550).
- Modesto, CA$107,550
- Seattle, WA$101,370
- El Centro, CA$101,090
- Mount Vernon, WA$100,150
- Visalia, CA$99,130
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary by city
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Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary in Hickory: questions
What is the entry-level kindergarten teachers (except special education) salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,010 a year and the 25th percentile is $53,400, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the kindergarten teachers (except special education) take-home pay in Hickory?
About $43,167 a year ($3,597 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,010.
Do kindergarten teachers (except special education) earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% less than the U.S. average for this job ($69,370).
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 25-2012; area Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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 0.52, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.52).
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