Chemical Technicians Salary in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Chemical Technicians in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC make a median of $47,630 a year, or about $22.9 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $58K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.49), which stretches that salary to about $53,825 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,095/month — about 33.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $48K get you in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton’s Regional Price Parity (88.49). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About chemical technicians
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Entry-level chemical technicians (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $58K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Chemical Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $83K | +44% | 950 |
| Delaware | $65K | +12% | 600 |
| Massachusetts | $65K | +12% | 2,200 |
| Texas | $65K | +12% | 6,510 |
| Oklahoma | $64K | +11% | 770 |
| West Virginia | $64K | +10% | 240 |
| Arizona | $63K | +9% | 470 |
| New Mexico | $63K | +8% | 100 |
| Illinois | $62K | +7% | 1,410 |
| Alaska | $61K | +6% | 150 |
| Vermont | $61K | +5% | 140 |
| South Carolina | $60K | +3% | 1,300 |
| Nebraska | $59K | +2% | 330 |
| Pennsylvania | $59K | +2% | 3,050 |
| Missouri | $59K | +2% | 700 |
| New York | $58K | -0% | 2,350 |
| Michigan | $58K | -0% | 2,300 |
| New Jersey | $58K | -0% | 3,210 |
| Wisconsin | $57K | -1% | 970 |
| California | $57K | -2% | 6,480 |
| Washington | $56K | -3% | 880 |
| Kansas | $55K | -4% | 290 |
| Idaho | $55K | -5% | 140 |
| Kentucky | $55K | -5% | 540 |
| Ohio | $55K | -5% | 2,500 |
| Minnesota | $54K | -6% | 730 |
| Mississippi | $54K | -6% | 330 |
| North Dakota | $53K | -8% | 90 |
| Utah | $53K | -8% | 760 |
| Alabama | $53K | -9% | 1,180 |
| Wyoming | $53K | -9% | 240 |
| Iowa | $52K | -10% | 430 |
| Indiana | $52K | -10% | 1,410 |
| Georgia | $52K | -10% | 820 |
| Tennessee | $51K | -12% | 1,740 |
| Connecticut | $51K | -12% | 470 |
| Virginia | $51K | -12% | 1,070 |
| Nevada | $50K | -13% | 870 |
| Montana | $50K | -13% | 200 |
| Oregon | $50K | -14% | 370 |
| Rhode Island | $50K | -14% | 170 |
| North Carolina | $49K | -15% | 1,360 |
| District of Columbia | $49K | -16% | 40 |
| South Dakota | $48K | -17% | 90 |
| Maryland | $48K | -17% | 930 |
| Maine | $47K | -18% | 50 |
| New Hampshire | $47K | -18% | 160 |
| Florida | $47K | -19% | 1,960 |
| Arkansas | $47K | -19% | 450 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track chemical technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do chemical technicians make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median is $47,630 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,520, and experienced chemical technicians can clear $58,230. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,181/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,095/month, which eats 34.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a chemical technicians salary go in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton has a Regional Price Parity of 88.49 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chemical technicians salary is worth about $53,825 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemical technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.