SOC 51-4081 · Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Hickory, NC

The average salary for multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Hickory, North Carolina is $46,120 a year ($22.17 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $44,920: half of the 130 people in this job in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 8% less than the U.S. average for this job ($50,030).

$46,120average per year

$22.17 / hourMedian $44,920Take-home ≈ $37,906

  • $38K10th
  • $38K25th
  • $45KMedian
  • $50K75th
  • $63K90th

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

130people in this job
-8%vs U.S. average
#8 of 10North Carolina metros
88cost of living (U.S. = 100)
Advertisement

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay range in Hickory

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,720 a year or less, while the top 10% make $63,360 or more. The middle half of multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Hickory earn between $38,400 and $49,560.

  • $38K10th
  • $38K25th
  • $45KMedian
  • $50K75th
  • $63K90th

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

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$46,120$3,843$22.17
Median$44,920$3,743$21.60
Entry level (25th percentile)$38,400$3,200$18.46
Experienced (75th percentile)$49,560$4,130$23.83

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.

Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Hickory earn 6% less than the North Carolina average ($49,070) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($50,030). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $47,180.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Hickory$46,120$44,920$37,720$63,360130
North Carolina$49,070$47,320$37,360$67,6603,200
United States$50,030$47,180$35,780$74,450124,590

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

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary after taxes in Hickory

On the average salary of $46,120, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $37,906 a year, or $3,159 a month and $1,458 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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

Advertisement

Is Hickory a good place for multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic? 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 $46,120 buys what about $52,121 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $46,120 is worth in another city

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in other North Carolina cities

Hickory ranks 8th of 10 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($54,330).

All Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries in North Carolina

Highest-paying cities for multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

Dallas, TX pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($67,500).

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by city

Advertisement

Does this match what you are paid?

Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.

Share your pay anonymously

Reviewed before it counts. Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Hickory, NC.

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Hickory: questions

How much do multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make an hour in Hickory?

$22.17 an hour on average, and $21.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary in Hickory?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,720 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,400, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic take-home pay in Hickory?

About $37,906 a year ($3,159 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $46,120.

Do multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?

The average here is 8% less than the U.S. average for this job ($50,030).

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 51-4081; 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 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.

Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.