Hickory Employment

Employment and Industries in the Hickory, North Carolina Area

Hickory, North Carolina is the economic center of the Catawaba River Valley. The Hickory region includes many of the leading furniture manufacturers. It is also one of the world's major producers of fiber optic cable. Hickory is headquarters to fiber cable maker, Corning Cable Systems and telecommunications cable manufacturer CommScope.

Praise for Hickory, North Carolina: Readers Digest named the Hickory Metro the 10th best place to live and raise a family in the nation. Forbes Magazine named the MSA (Hickory, Lenoir, Morganton) the 3rd best MSA in the nation for business cost. The region has been chosen by Inc Magazine as one of the nation's top entrepreneurial areas for traditional and high-tech industries.

In Hickory, the significant job providing segments are furniture and related products, healthcare, educational services, manufacturing, accommodation and food services, electrical equipment, appliances and components; and construction. About 31% of the workers are employed in management, professional and related occupations. Approximately 25% of the workers are employed in sales and office jobs. Production, transportation and material moving occupations comprise 22% of the labor force.

Facts about Hickory, North Carolina: Regarding the adult population, 28% have achieved a bachelor's degree or higher. In 2008 the cost of living index in Hickory was at 85.7. The national average is 100. In 2009 the average salary in Hickory was $28,000.

The major employers located in the Hickory region:

  • Catawaba County Schools
  • Frye Regional Medical Center
  • CommScope, Inc
  • Merchants Distributors, Inc
  • Hickory Springs
  • Catawaba Valley Medical Center
  • Sherrill Furniture Co
  • Catawaba County
  • McCreary Modern
  • CV Industries, Inc
  • Shurtape Technologies, Inc
  • Thomasville Furniture
  • Newton-Conover City Schools
  • Pierre Foods
  • City of Hickory
  • International Legwear (Ellis)
  • Hickory Public Schools
  • Gold Toe Moretz
  • Ethan Allen, Inc
  • Vanguard Furniture

Hickory businesses may want to contact these helpful organizations:

Hickory business and industry information is provided by the Hickory Daily Record.

Jobs in Hickory

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations153530$41,840$20.11100
2Production Occupations31690$36,300$17.455.6
3Office and Administrative Support Occupations17300$35,830$17.2313.75
4Transportation and Material Moving Occupations17010$34,340$16.516.7
5Sales and Related Occupations14890$39,430$18.969.5
6Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations12820$21,770$10.478.7
7Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations8400$79,110$38.035.85
8Educational Instruction and Library Occupations7950$44,430$21.366
9Healthcare Support Occupations6960$26,330$12.662.85
10Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations6960$43,870$21.093.75
11Management Occupations5260$108,550$52.196.35
12Retail Salespersons5040$27,310$13.132.7
13Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand4500$29,660$14.261.8
14Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators4210$29,150$14.020.8
15Business and Financial Operations Occupations4070$64,610$31.065.35
16Fast Food and Counter Workers4000$19,080$9.172.45
17Construction and Extraction Occupations3970$39,990$19.234.6
18Cashiers3790$20,380$9.82.2
19Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers3640$47,440$22.811.2
20Protective Service Occupations3500$37,280$17.922.2
21Home Health and Personal Care Aides3450$22,600$10.860
22Upholsterers3280$44,570$21.430
23Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations3100$25,960$12.483.6
24Office Clerks, General3000$33,220$15.971.9
25Registered Nurses2820$62,290$29.951.95
26Customer Service Representatives2530$32,640$15.691.75
27Stockers and Order Fillers2460$28,790$13.841.25
28Sewing Machine Operators2410$36,310$17.460.1
29Personal Care and Service Occupations2290$26,770$12.874.65
30Waiters and Waitresses2120$21,580$10.371.65
31Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products1930$70,260$33.780.85
32Community and Social Service Occupations1920$45,330$21.791.75
33Nursing Assistants1820$25,860$12.430.95
34First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers1800$55,880$26.870.4
35Architecture and Engineering Occupations1710$72,610$34.911.7
36General and Operations Managers1640$117,950$56.711.5
37Maintenance and Repair Workers, General1590$38,910$18.710.9
38Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1580$24,110$11.591.5
39Computer and Mathematical Occupations1550$72,870$35.033
40Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic1520$42,290$20.330
41Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers1520$33,220$15.970.35
42Cooks, Restaurant1470$23,310$11.210.9
43Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks1450$38,280$18.41.05
44Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks1390$32,550$15.650.4
45First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers1350$50,790$24.420.95
46Light Truck Drivers1240$36,970$17.770.6
47Receptionists and Information Clerks1240$28,060$13.490.7
48First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers1210$51,770$24.890.95
49Substitute Teachers, Short-Term1150$24,370$11.720.4
50First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers1140$31,140$14.970.6
51Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive1120$35,430$17.031.4
52Packers and Packagers, Hand1070$26,790$12.880.4
53Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations1000$45,290$21.771.8
54Cutters and Trimmers, Hand960$40,560$19.50
55Helpers--Production Workers950$33,400$16.060.2
56Correctional Officers and Jailers920$38,910$18.710.25
57Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing920$34,240$16.460
58Food Preparation Workers840$21,410$10.290.5
59Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators820$35,410$17.020.4
60Driver/Sales Workers790$25,000$12.020.3
61Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics760$44,740$21.510.5
62Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers760$41,620$20.010.4
63Maintenance Workers, Machinery740$43,970$21.140.1
64Accountants and Auditors730$69,460$33.390.9
65Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders730$26,960$12.960
66Firefighters720$27,870$13.40.2
67Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers710$35,370$170.2
68Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity700$28,180$13.550.3
69Medical Assistants690$30,550$14.690.45
70Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks680$39,900$19.180.2
71Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations670$55,290$26.580.8
72Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers660$28,420$13.660.75
73Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders650$36,510$17.550
74Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders650$30,060$14.450
75Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel630$62,210$29.910.7
76Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners620$20,650$9.930.9
77First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors610$53,430$25.690.3
78Amusement and Recreation Attendants580$19,080$9.170.2
79Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers580$37,410$17.990.3
80Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters570$27,400$13.170.1
81Furniture Finishers560$31,530$15.160
82Pharmacy Technicians560$33,710$16.210.3
83Carpenters540$34,750$16.710.6
84Child, Family, and School Social Workers540$46,100$22.160.2
85Industrial Machinery Mechanics510$41,650$20.020.2
86Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics490$33,780$16.240
87Security Guards490$29,150$14.020.7
88Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic480$28,810$13.850.1
89First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers480$66,990$32.210.3
90Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders480$31,340$15.070.1
91Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders480$27,140$13.050.2
92Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria460$23,630$11.360.3
93Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders460$42,590$20.470.1
94Cooks, Fast Food450$17,730$8.530.3
95Industrial Production Managers450$102,340$49.20.1
96Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists450$74,850$35.980.45
97Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers450$23,970$11.520.1
98Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators450$41,940$20.160.25
99Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders440$36,530$17.560.1
100Machinists440$41,100$19.760.2
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Hickory Colleges
Hickory colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Hickory Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$41,840153,530
Production Occupations$36,30031,690
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$35,83017,300
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$34,34017,010
Sales and Related Occupations$39,43014,890
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$21,77012,820
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$79,1108,400
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$44,4307,950
Healthcare Support Occupations$26,3306,960
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$43,8706,960
Management Occupations$108,5505,260
Retail Salespersons$27,3105,040
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$29,6604,500
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$29,1504,210
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$64,6104,070
Fast Food and Counter Workers$19,0804,000
Construction and Extraction Occupations$39,9903,970
Cashiers$20,3803,790
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$47,4403,640
Protective Service Occupations$37,2803,500
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$22,6003,450
Upholsterers$44,5703,280
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$25,9603,100
Office Clerks, General$33,2203,000
Registered Nurses$62,2902,820
Customer Service Representatives$32,6402,530
Stockers and Order Fillers$28,7902,460
Sewing Machine Operators$36,3102,410
Personal Care and Service Occupations$26,7702,290
Waiters and Waitresses$21,5802,120
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$70,2601,930
Community and Social Service Occupations$45,3301,920
Nursing Assistants$25,8601,820
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$55,8801,800
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$72,6101,710
General and Operations Managers$117,9501,640
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$38,9101,590
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$24,1101,580
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$72,8701,550
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$42,2901,520
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$33,2201,520
Cooks, Restaurant$23,3101,470
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$38,2801,450
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$32,5501,390
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$50,7901,350
Light Truck Drivers$36,9701,240
Receptionists and Information Clerks$28,0601,240
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$51,7701,210
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$24,3701,150
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$31,1401,140

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Hickory, North Carolina Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$41,840153,530
Production Occupations$36,30031,690
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$35,83017,300
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$34,34017,010
Sales and Related Occupations$39,43014,890
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$79,1108,400
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$44,4307,950
Healthcare Support Occupations$26,3306,960
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$43,8706,960
Management Occupations$108,5505,260
Retail Salespersons$27,3105,040
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$29,6604,500
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$29,1504,210
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$64,6104,070
Construction and Extraction Occupations$39,9903,970
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$47,4403,640
Protective Service Occupations$37,2803,500
Upholsterers$44,5703,280
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$25,9603,100
Office Clerks, General$33,2203,000
Registered Nurses$62,2902,820
Customer Service Representatives$32,6402,530
Stockers and Order Fillers$28,7902,460
Sewing Machine Operators$36,3102,410
Personal Care and Service Occupations$26,7702,290
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$70,2601,930
Community and Social Service Occupations$45,3301,920
Nursing Assistants$25,8601,820
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$55,8801,800
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$72,6101,710
General and Operations Managers$117,9501,640
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$38,9101,590
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$72,8701,550
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$42,2901,520
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$33,2201,520
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$38,2801,450
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$32,5501,390
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$50,7901,350
Light Truck Drivers$36,9701,240
Receptionists and Information Clerks$28,0601,240
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$51,7701,210
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$31,1401,140
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$35,4301,120
Packers and Packagers, Hand$26,7901,070
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$45,2901,000
Cutters and Trimmers, Hand$40,560960
Helpers--Production Workers$33,400950
Correctional Officers and Jailers$38,910920
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$34,240920
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$35,410820

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