Cost of hiring in Hickory-Lenoir, NC
BLS counts about 12,690 people in these 17 roles in Hickory-Lenoir1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($85,490 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($33,870), and Customer Support Specialist is the largest job, with about 2,250 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Hickory-Lenoir
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Specialist | -4.2% | 590 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -5.8% | 110 | |
| Accountant | -7.4% | 1,040 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -8.2% | 110 | |
| HR Assistant | -9.5% | 70 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -10.9% | 420 | |
| Bookkeeper | -10.9% | 1,570 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -12.3% | 1,140 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -12.8% | 90 | |
| Office Manager | -13.2% | 1,010 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -14.5% | 940 | |
| Recruiter | -14.8% | 670 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -15.6% | 2,250 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -16.4% | 1,790 | |
| Project Coordinator | -16.4% | 490 | |
| Paralegal | -22.8% | 200 | |
| Executive Assistant | -31.1% | 200 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $37,790 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $48,761 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Hickory-Lenoir against the US
Hickory-Lenoir pays below the US median for all 17 roles. The gap is smallest for marketing specialists (-4.2%) and e-commerce order specialists (-5.8%) and largest for executive assistants (-31.1%). The middle gap across all 17 is -12.8%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for marketing specialists, #67 of 516 areas by median pay; its lowest is for executive assistants, #470 of 509.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Hickory-Lenoir has more medical administrative assistants (14.1% of these jobs here, against 6.1% nationally) and e-commerce order specialists (0.9% against 0.5%), and fewer executive assistants (1.6% against 2.9%) and project coordinators (3.9% against 6.7%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Dalton, GA is nearest, at -12.8%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale, AR | -12.6% | 17 | 25,800 |
| Decatur, AL | -12.6% | 15 | 5,210 |
| Gettysburg, PA | -12.6% | 12 | 2,320 |
| Hickory-Lenoir, NC | -12.8% (this area) | 17 | 12,690 |
| Dalton, GA | -12.8% | 17 | 5,620 |
| Gainesville, FL | -13.0% | 16 | 13,460 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Hickory-Lenoir span $35,700–$134,690, the widest band (3.8×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $33,920–$48,660. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 9 of 17 roles, executive assistants most ($50,560–$109,850 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, executive assistants, project coordinators and 4 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($75,150 against a $59,850 median for sales development representatives).
Hickory-Lenoir against North Carolina
Against North Carolina as a whole, Hickory-Lenoir pays less for every one of the 17 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for office managers (-3.2%) and is furthest below for executive assistants (-24.8%). Its best rank within North Carolina is #5 of 18 areas, for marketing specialists.
Other areas in North Carolina
By jobs in these roles, Hickory-Lenoir is #11 of 18 areas in North Carolina. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area to Rocky Mount.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern North Carolina (Nonmetro) | 21,670 | 17 |
| Western North Carolina (Nonmetro) | 21,250 | 17 |
| Wilmington, NC | 19,910 | 17 |
| Asheville, NC | 18,810 | 17 |
| Central North Carolina (Nonmetro) | 17,340 | 17 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 11,520 | 17 |
| Greenville, NC | 7,660 | 16 |
| Burlington, NC | 5,960 | 15 |
| Jacksonville, NC | 5,050 | 16 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 4,480 | 17 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Hickory-Lenoir?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $85,490 a year, about $110,310 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $33,870.
Is hiring in Hickory-Lenoir cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 17 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for executive assistants (-31.1%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.