Food Processing Workers, All Other Salary
Food Processing Workers, All Others in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC make a median of $39,150 a year, or about $18.82 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $42K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.49), which stretches that salary to about $44,242 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,095/month, about 40.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $39K 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 food processing workers, all others
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What this looks like in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton
Food processing workers, all other pay in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton tracks closely to the national median, $39K locally vs. $40K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,095/month, which is 41.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for food processing workers, all others in metros near Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary | $49K | $50K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $39K | $40K |
| Greensboro-High Point | $37K | $39K |
| Winston-Salem | $36K | $40K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Entry-level food processing workers, all others (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $42K or more, a $12K spread from bottom to top.
Food Processing Workers, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Food Processing Workers, All Other salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $47K | +18% | 610 |
| Idaho | $47K | +18% | 130 |
| Kansas | $46K | +16% | 560 |
| New Hampshire | $45K | +14% | 80 |
| Illinois | $45K | +14% | 2,760 |
| Arizona | $45K | +14% | 600 |
| North Dakota | $45K | +14% | 50 |
| Missouri | $44K | +11% | 1,630 |
| Washington | $44K | +11% | 920 |
| Vermont | $43K | +9% | 120 |
| Massachusetts | $43K | +9% | 210 |
| New York | $43K | +8% | 400 |
| Wyoming | $43K | +8% | 30 |
| Tennessee | $43K | +8% | 1,910 |
| Minnesota | $42K | +5% | 2,000 |
| Iowa | $42K | +5% | 5,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $42K | +5% | 1,350 |
| Utah | $41K | +4% | 620 |
| Florida | $41K | +4% | 1,050 |
| Indiana | $41K | +4% | 910 |
| Wisconsin | $41K | +2% | 340 |
| Texas | $40K | +1% | 6,780 |
| Ohio | $39K | -1% | 1,640 |
| Delaware | $39K | -1% | 510 |
| Michigan | $39K | -2% | 430 |
| Oklahoma | $39K | -3% | 360 |
| Maine | $38K | -4% | 110 |
| California | $38K | -4% | 7,140 |
| Oregon | $38K | -4% | 760 |
| Mississippi | $38K | -4% | 590 |
| Arkansas | $38K | -5% | 1,770 |
| Virginia | $38K | -5% | 1,190 |
| Georgia | $38K | -5% | 5,650 |
| West Virginia | $38K | -5% | 100 |
| Montana | $38K | -5% | 140 |
| Alabama | $38K | -5% | 460 |
| Connecticut | $37K | -6% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $37K | -6% | 690 |
| North Carolina | $37K | -6% | 4,770 |
| South Carolina | $37K | -7% | 510 |
| Maryland | $36K | -10% | 2,450 |
| Rhode Island | $35K | -12% | 160 |
| New Jersey | $35K | -13% | 940 |
| New Mexico | $35K | -13% | 230 |
| Louisiana | $31K | -21% | 2,950 |
| Nevada | $30K | -24% | 590 |
Showing 1–10 of 46 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track food processing workers, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a food processing workers, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 41.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,095/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for food processing workers, all others in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food processing workers, all others typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,809/month. At HUD’s $1,095/month FMR, rent would take 61% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is food processing workers, all other a high-paying job in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $39K locally vs. $40K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton compare to the national average for food processing workers, all others?
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do food processing workers, all others make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median is $39,150 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,150, and experienced food processing workers, all others can clear $41,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,644/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,095/month, which eats 41.4% 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 food processing workers, all other 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 food processing workers, all other salary is worth about $44,242 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do food processing workers, all others 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.