Human Resources Managers Salary
In Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC, human resources managers earn $117,950 at the median, or about $56.71 an hour. The range runs from $80K at the entry level to $208K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.49), which stretches that salary to about $133,292 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,095/month, or 14.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $118K 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 human resources managers
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What this looks like in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton
Pay for human resources managers in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $149K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,095/month, 15.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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. Lower pay, lower costs, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton can be a reasonable trade-off for human resources managerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for human resources managers in metros near Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $159K | $163K |
| Raleigh-Cary | $144K | $147K |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $161K | $165K |
| Greensboro-High Point | $133K | $144K |
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 human resources managers (10th percentile) start around $80K. Mid-career wages sit at $118K. Top earners bring in $208K or more, a $128K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Managers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Human Resources Managers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $184K | +23% | 2,250 |
| Massachusetts | $182K | +22% | 7,540 |
| New York | $177K | +18% | 17,920 |
| New Jersey | $172K | +16% | 6,400 |
| California | $170K | +14% | 27,450 |
| Rhode Island | $167K | +12% | 530 |
| Colorado | $166K | +11% | 3,620 |
| Virginia | $166K | +11% | 5,770 |
| Connecticut | $166K | +11% | 3,020 |
| Washington | $166K | +11% | 4,560 |
| Delaware | $154K | +3% | 580 |
| Minnesota | $154K | +3% | 4,370 |
| Maryland | $153K | +2% | 3,820 |
| Illinois | $151K | +1% | 13,520 |
| Georgia | $151K | +1% | 7,270 |
| North Carolina | $143K | -4% | 6,480 |
| Oregon | $141K | -6% | 2,810 |
| Arizona | $140K | -6% | 3,950 |
| North Dakota | $139K | -7% | 290 |
| Michigan | $139K | -7% | 5,890 |
| Florida | $138K | -8% | 11,570 |
| Texas | $137K | -9% | 23,220 |
| New Hampshire | $135K | -10% | 1,150 |
| Kansas | $134K | -10% | 1,290 |
| Wisconsin | $133K | -11% | 3,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $133K | -11% | 8,230 |
| Vermont | $132K | -12% | 360 |
| Tennessee | $132K | -12% | 4,310 |
| Utah | $131K | -12% | 2,240 |
| Missouri | $131K | -12% | 3,510 |
| Ohio | $130K | -13% | 8,040 |
| Indiana | $130K | -13% | 3,030 |
| Maine | $130K | -13% | 700 |
| Alaska | $130K | -13% | 610 |
| Nebraska | $129K | -13% | 1,660 |
| Hawaii | $129K | -14% | 710 |
| Nevada | $129K | -14% | 1,520 |
| Wyoming | $128K | -15% | 140 |
| Iowa | $126K | -15% | 1,620 |
| South Carolina | $124K | -17% | 2,400 |
| Kentucky | $121K | -19% | 1,960 |
| West Virginia | $120K | -20% | 510 |
| Idaho | $120K | -20% | 1,040 |
| New Mexico | $118K | -21% | 820 |
| South Dakota | $118K | -21% | 420 |
| Oklahoma | $116K | -22% | 1,750 |
| Montana | $115K | -23% | 530 |
| Alabama | $113K | -24% | 2,160 |
| Arkansas | $109K | -27% | 1,290 |
| Louisiana | $108K | -28% | 1,390 |
| Mississippi | $106K | -29% | 720 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track human resources managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton numbers change.
Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a human resources manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Yes — at the median salary of $118K, rent takes 15.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,095/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for human resources managers in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources managers typically earn — is $80K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,808/month. At HUD’s $1,095/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is human resources manager a high-paying job in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $118K here vs. $149K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton compare to the national average for human resources managers?
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton pays $118K median vs. the U.S. average of $149K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $133K — below the national median.
How much do human resources managers make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median is $117,950 a year, that works out to about $57 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $80,130, and experienced human resources managers can clear $208,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $118K enough to live in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,171/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,095/month, which eats 15.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a human resources managers 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 human resources managers salary is worth about $133,292 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do human resources managers 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.