Writers and Authors pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $73,380 or more. The middle half of writers and authors in Hickory earn between $47,300 and $59,190.
- $40K10th
- $47K25th
- $47KMedian
- $59K75th
- $73K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $57,270 | $4,772 | $27.53 |
| Median | $47,300 | $3,942 | $22.74 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,300 | $3,942 | $22.74 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,190 | $4,932 | $28.46 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Writers and Authors pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Writers and authors in Hickory earn 21% less than the North Carolina average ($72,340) and 33% less than the U.S. average ($86,090). At the median the gap is -38% against the U.S. median of $76,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $57,270 | $47,300 | $39,990 | $73,380 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $72,340 | $63,660 | $42,180 | $117,820 | 1,810 |
| United States | $86,090 | $76,910 | $44,310 | $139,870 | 47,940 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Writers and Authors salary after taxes in Hickory
On the average salary of $57,270, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $46,420 a year, or $3,868 a month and $1,785 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 writers and authors? 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 $57,270 buys what about $64,722 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 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Writers and Authors salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 8th of 8 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($83,700).
- Durham$83,700
- Greensboro$78,410
- Raleigh$78,320
- Charlotte$74,940
- Asheville$67,960
- Winston-Salem$67,650
- Wilmington$59,360
- Hickory$57,270
Highest-paying cities for writers and authors
Waterbury, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($186,370).
- Waterbury, CT$186,370
- San Jose, CA$120,540
- Washington, DC$118,070
- Santa Rosa, CA$113,000
- Bridgeport, CT$111,590
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Writers and Authors salary in Hickory: questions
How much do writers and authors make an hour in Hickory?
$27.54 an hour on average, and $22.74 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level writers and authors salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,300, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the writers and authors take-home pay in Hickory?
About $46,420 a year ($3,868 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $57,270.
Do writers and authors earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 33% less than the U.S. average for this job ($86,090).
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 27-3043; area Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 12.3%.
- 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 0.79, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.79).
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