Upholsterers Salary
Upholsterers in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC make a median of $59,700 a year, or about $28.7 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.49), which stretches that salary to about $67,465 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,095/month, or 27.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $60K 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 upholsterers
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What this looks like in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton sits well above the national pay line for upholsterers, local pay runs about 29% higher than the U.S. median of $46K. Rent runs $1,095/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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 upholsterers in metros near Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Greensboro-High Point | $49K | $53K |
| Winston-Salem | $38K | $42K |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $51K | $52K |
| Raleigh-Cary | $45K | $46K |
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 upholsterers (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Upholsterers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Upholsterers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $63K | +37% | 30 |
| Hawaii | $57K | +24% | 30 |
| Washington | $56K | +21% | 200 |
| North Dakota | $52K | +13% | N/A |
| Connecticut | $51K | +10% | 210 |
| Georgia | $51K | +10% | 780 |
| North Carolina | $51K | +9% | 4,050 |
| Maryland | $50K | +8% | 200 |
| Louisiana | $50K | +8% | 80 |
| Nevada | $50K | +8% | 220 |
| Delaware | $50K | +8% | 40 |
| Minnesota | $49K | +5% | 60 |
| California | $49K | +5% | 1,640 |
| Oregon | $49K | +5% | 250 |
| Massachusetts | $48K | +4% | 150 |
| New York | $47K | +2% | 480 |
| Wisconsin | $47K | +1% | 260 |
| Indiana | $45K | -3% | 1,400 |
| Mississippi | $45K | -3% | 2,410 |
| Michigan | $45K | -3% | 500 |
| Utah | $45K | -4% | 90 |
| Arkansas | $44K | -6% | 210 |
| Kansas | $43K | -7% | 260 |
| Texas | $43K | -7% | 710 |
| Pennsylvania | $43K | -8% | 280 |
| New Jersey | $43K | -8% | 410 |
| Iowa | $43K | -8% | 80 |
| Illinois | $42K | -8% | 250 |
| Colorado | $42K | -9% | 160 |
| Arizona | $42K | -10% | 180 |
| Kentucky | $42K | -10% | 80 |
| Montana | $42K | -10% | 40 |
| Idaho | $40K | -14% | 190 |
| Ohio | $39K | -15% | 380 |
| South Carolina | $39K | -16% | 140 |
| Alabama | $38K | -17% | 120 |
| Tennessee | $38K | -18% | 460 |
| Oklahoma | $38K | -18% | 150 |
| Florida | $38K | -18% | 1,530 |
| Virginia | $32K | -31% | 340 |
| Missouri | $30K | -35% | N/A |
| Nebraska | $30K | -35% | 110 |
Showing 1–10 of 42 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track upholsterers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a upholsterer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 27.8% 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 upholsterers in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new upholsterers typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,671/month. At HUD’s $1,095/month FMR, rent would take 41% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is upholsterer a high-paying job in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Local pay is 29% above the national median — $60K here vs. $46K nationally.
How does Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton compare to the national average for upholsterers?
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s +29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do upholsterers make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median is $59,700 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,520, and experienced upholsterers can clear $76,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,943/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,095/month, which eats 27.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a upholsterers 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 upholsterers salary is worth about $67,465 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do upholsterers 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.