Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $69,230 or more. The middle half of plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in Hickory earn between $45,740 and $61,240.
- $37K10th
- $46K25th
- $51KMedian
- $61K75th
- $69K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,370 | $4,448 | $25.66 |
| Median | $51,330 | $4,278 | $24.68 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,740 | $3,812 | $21.99 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,240 | $5,103 | $29.44 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in Hickory earn 6% less than the North Carolina average ($56,720) and 26% less than the U.S. average ($72,170). At the median the gap is -20% against the U.S. median of $63,800.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $53,370 | $51,330 | $37,380 | $69,230 | 330 |
| North Carolina | $56,720 | $57,080 | $38,860 | $75,850 | 14,510 |
| United States | $72,170 | $63,800 | $44,150 | $108,420 | 465,840 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary after taxes in Hickory
On the average salary of $53,370, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $43,442 a year, or $3,620 a month and $1,671 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 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters? 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 $53,370 buys what about $60,315 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 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.
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 12th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($60,290).
- Raleigh$60,290
- Durham$58,630
- Charlotte$58,140
- Greenville$56,470
- Wilmington$56,280
- Burlington$56,230
- Greensboro$56,230
- Asheville$56,120
- Jacksonville$56,010
- Hickory$53,370
All Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salaries in North Carolina
Highest-paying cities for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($114,280).
- San Jose, CA$114,280
- Bellingham, WA$102,860
- Portland, OR$100,710
- Chicago, IL$96,430
- Seattle, WA$96,250
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Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary in Hickory: questions
How much do plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make an hour in Hickory?
$25.66 an hour on average, and $24.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,740, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters take-home pay in Hickory?
About $43,442 a year ($3,620 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,370.
Do plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% less than the U.S. average for this job ($72,170).
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 47-2152; area Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- 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 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
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