Librarians and Media Collections Specialists pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,900 a year or less, while the top 10% make $68,900 or more. The middle half of librarians and media collections specialists in Hickory earn between $46,140 and $61,580.
- $38K10th
- $46K25th
- $58KMedian
- $62K75th
- $69K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,850 | $4,654 | $26.85 |
| Median | $58,370 | $4,864 | $28.06 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,140 | $3,845 | $22.18 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,580 | $5,132 | $29.61 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Librarians and media collections specialists in Hickory earn 13% less than the North Carolina average ($64,140) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($72,840). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $68,270.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $55,850 | $58,370 | $37,900 | $68,900 | 90 |
| North Carolina | $64,140 | $61,420 | $44,600 | $83,650 | 4,010 |
| United States | $72,840 | $68,270 | $43,660 | $103,990 | 133,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary after taxes in Hickory
On the average salary of $55,850, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $45,336 a year, or $3,778 a month and $1,744 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 librarians and media collections specialists? 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 $55,850 buys what about $63,117 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 4.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 12th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($76,910).
- Durham$76,910
- Raleigh$70,310
- Charlotte$66,060
- Wilmington$63,520
- Winston-Salem$63,100
- Burlington$60,970
- Greensboro$60,370
- Jacksonville$59,690
- Asheville$59,240
- Hickory$55,850
All Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salaries in North Carolina
Highest-paying cities for librarians and media collections specialists
Seattle, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($105,400).
- Seattle, WA$105,400
- San Jose, CA$103,650
- Merced, CA$102,870
- San Francisco, CA$101,170
- Bremerton, WA$100,200
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Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in Hickory: questions
How much do librarians and media collections specialists make an hour in Hickory?
$26.85 an hour on average, and $28.06 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level librarians and media collections specialists salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,900 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the librarians and media collections specialists take-home pay in Hickory?
About $45,336 a year ($3,778 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,850.
Do librarians and media collections specialists earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% less than the U.S. average for this job ($72,840).
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 25-4022; area Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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 0.65, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.65).
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