Childcare Workers Salary in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Childcare Workers in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC make a median of $28,020 a year, or about $13.47 an hour. The range runs from $22K at the entry level to $37K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.49), which stretches that salary to about $31,665 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,095/month — about 54.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $28K 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 childcare workers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Entry-level childcare workers (10th percentile) start around $22K. Mid-career wages sit at $28K. Top earners bring in $37K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Childcare Workers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $45K | +42% | 1,010 |
| Massachusetts | $39K | +23% | 12,370 |
| California | $38K | +19% | 47,190 |
| Vermont | $38K | +18% | 1,120 |
| Washington | $38K | +18% | 4,300 |
| New York | $37K | +14% | 42,780 |
| Hawaii | $36K | +14% | 1,860 |
| Oregon | $36K | +13% | 4,230 |
| Connecticut | $35K | +10% | 9,630 |
| Maryland | $35K | +10% | 8,910 |
| Arizona | $35K | +10% | 6,190 |
| Alaska | $35K | +9% | 1,260 |
| Rhode Island | $35K | +9% | 2,390 |
| Maine | $35K | +8% | 4,110 |
| New Hampshire | $35K | +8% | 2,530 |
| New Jersey | $34K | +7% | 23,680 |
| New Mexico | $34K | +7% | 3,460 |
| Minnesota | $34K | +5% | 10,910 |
| Illinois | $33K | +3% | 22,540 |
| Montana | $31K | -2% | 2,070 |
| Florida | $31K | -4% | 21,790 |
| Utah | $31K | -4% | 3,910 |
| North Dakota | $30K | -5% | 3,870 |
| Virginia | $30K | -6% | 14,150 |
| Delaware | $30K | -6% | 1,270 |
| Missouri | $30K | -7% | 10,600 |
| Wisconsin | $30K | -7% | 3,910 |
| Indiana | $29K | -8% | 8,790 |
| Michigan | $29K | -9% | 14,760 |
| Nevada | $29K | -9% | 3,150 |
| Idaho | $29K | -9% | 5,500 |
| Tennessee | $29K | -9% | 13,190 |
| Nebraska | $29K | -10% | 9,070 |
| Kansas | $29K | -10% | 7,180 |
| Kentucky | $29K | -11% | 7,510 |
| Texas | $29K | -11% | 45,020 |
| North Carolina | $28K | -11% | 12,200 |
| South Carolina | $28K | -11% | 11,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $28K | -12% | 14,410 |
| Ohio | $28K | -12% | 12,580 |
| Georgia | $28K | -13% | 25,650 |
| Iowa | $28K | -13% | 5,870 |
| Wyoming | $28K | -14% | 1,330 |
| Arkansas | $27K | -15% | 6,200 |
| South Dakota | $27K | -16% | 2,640 |
| Oklahoma | $26K | -18% | 9,550 |
| West Virginia | $24K | -26% | 1,500 |
| Alabama | $22K | -30% | 4,880 |
| Louisiana | $22K | -31% | 9,150 |
| Mississippi | $22K | -32% | 4,920 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track childcare workers 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 childcare workers make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median is $28,020 a year, that works out to about $13 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $21,620, and experienced childcare workers can clear $37,300. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $28K enough to live in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,941/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,095/month, which eats 56.4% 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 childcare workers 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 childcare workers salary is worth about $31,665 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do childcare workers 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.