Tool and Die Makers Salary in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
In Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC, tool and die makers earn $64,280 at the median, or about $30.91 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.49), which stretches that salary to about $72,641 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,095/month, or 25.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $64K 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 tool and die makers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Entry-level tool and die makers (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Tool and Die Makers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | $81K | +29% | 750 |
| Washington | $78K | +24% | 1,200 |
| California | $78K | +23% | 1,380 |
| Maine | $77K | +21% | 70 |
| Connecticut | $76K | +21% | 1,800 |
| New Jersey | $76K | +20% | 620 |
| Oregon | $70K | +10% | 370 |
| New Hampshire | $68K | +8% | 260 |
| New York | $68K | +7% | 1,460 |
| Arizona | $68K | +7% | 260 |
| Utah | $67K | +6% | 140 |
| South Carolina | $66K | +5% | 720 |
| North Dakota | $66K | +4% | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $66K | +4% | 2,970 |
| Massachusetts | $66K | +4% | 950 |
| Minnesota | $65K | +4% | 1,060 |
| Nebraska | $65K | +3% | 440 |
| Kentucky | $65K | +2% | 2,100 |
| Oklahoma | $64K | +1% | 340 |
| Michigan | $64K | +1% | 9,190 |
| Indiana | $64K | +1% | 3,580 |
| Alabama | $64K | +1% | 870 |
| Rhode Island | $63K | -0% | 240 |
| Florida | $63K | -1% | 590 |
| Ohio | $63K | -1% | 5,460 |
| Iowa | $62K | -2% | 720 |
| Georgia | $61K | -3% | 760 |
| North Carolina | $61K | -3% | 1,480 |
| Missouri | $61K | -4% | 1,680 |
| Virginia | $61K | -4% | 450 |
| Tennessee | $61K | -4% | 2,180 |
| Illinois | $61K | -4% | 4,590 |
| Pennsylvania | $60K | -6% | 2,910 |
| Nevada | $59K | -6% | 200 |
| Vermont | $59K | -7% | 140 |
| South Dakota | $56K | -12% | 100 |
| Texas | $55K | -14% | 1,550 |
| Idaho | $55K | -14% | 40 |
| Maryland | $54K | -15% | N/A |
| Mississippi | $52K | -17% | 390 |
| Arkansas | $50K | -20% | 350 |
| West Virginia | $50K | -21% | 40 |
| Louisiana | $45K | -28% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 43 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track tool and die makers 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 tool and die makers make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median is $64,280 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,300, and experienced tool and die makers can clear $77,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,226/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,095/month, which eats 25.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a tool and die makers 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 tool and die makers salary is worth about $72,641 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do tool and die makers 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.