Peakstock // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Median annual wage: $82,850
- Median hourly wage: $39.83
- Total employment: 30 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Hickory
Despite recession fears and falling consumer confidence, the job market in the United States has remained relatively stable in 2025 thus far. According to May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, around 177,000 new jobs were added in April, a slight decrease from the 185,000 new jobs added in the month before, but an extension of the country's 52-month streak of job growth. Unemployment rates also held relatively steady between April 2024 and April 2025, coming in at around 4%.
Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean Americans have it easy in the workplace. A December 2024 Payscale report found that nearly half (47%) of business organizations struggle to balance fair pay practices with spend optimization, and 18% plan to reduce pay increases in 2025 as a result.
For context, median weekly earnings across all employees in the U.S. stood at $1,194 in the first quarter of 2025. This represents an increase of 4.8% from a year prior and exceeds the Consumer Price Index's 2.7% increase in the same time period. However, there's one caveat: Earnings go much further in some places than in others.
In fact, the very definition of a "high-paying" job varies by location, as well as other factors such as industry and benefits. Even a six-figure salary may be considered low-income in places with an unusually high cost of living. Meanwhile, technology, finance, and health care jobs lead in terms of salary, but benefits like remote work can make other lower-paying jobs more desirable.
Regardless, anyone seeking a high-paying job should start by looking at the numbers. Stacker used BLS data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Hickory. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
You may also like: Highest-rated seafood restaurants in Hickory
fizkes // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $83,480
- Median hourly wage: $40.14
- Total employment: 60 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Mechanical engineers
- Median annual wage: $84,450
- Median hourly wage: $40.60
- Total employment: 240 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $84,710
- Median hourly wage: $40.73
- Total employment: 250 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $86,290
- Median hourly wage: $41.49
- Total employment: 130 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the Hickory metro area
creativemarc // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Administrative services managers
- Median annual wage: $86,690
- Median hourly wage: $41.68
- Total employment: 160 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Civil engineers
- Median annual wage: $88,530
- Median hourly wage: $42.56
- Total employment: 120 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $90,000
- Median hourly wage: $43.27
- Total employment: 250 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. General and operations managers
- Median annual wage: $91,030
- Median hourly wage: $43.77
- Total employment: 2,070 people (13.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Project management specialists
- Median annual wage: $92,580
- Median hourly wage: $44.51
- Total employment: 450 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cheapest gas stations in Hickory
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $92,780
- Median hourly wage: $44.60
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N.Z.Photography // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Computer occupations, all other
- Median annual wage: $92,880
- Median hourly wage: $44.65
- Total employment: 140 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Construction managers
- Median annual wage: $95,370
- Median hourly wage: $45.85
- Total employment: 370 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
TaLaNoVa // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Sales engineers
- Median annual wage: $96,070
- Median hourly wage: $46.19
- Total employment: 40 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $96,750
- Median hourly wage: $46.51
- Total employment: 250 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Hickory that require a bachelor's degree
michaeljung // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $96,900
- Median hourly wage: $46.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $97,240
- Median hourly wage: $46.75
- Total employment: 250 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Radiation therapists
- Median annual wage: $97,410
- Median hourly wage: $46.83
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $97,840
- Median hourly wage: $47.04
- Total employment: 110 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $98,970
- Median hourly wage: $47.58
- Total employment: 160 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: People from these metros are looking to buy homes in Hickory
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Computer systems analysts
- Median annual wage: $100,250
- Median hourly wage: $48.20
- Total employment: 240 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $101,610
- Median hourly wage: $48.85
- Total employment: 350 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $102,090
- Median hourly wage: $49.08
- Total employment: 470 people (3.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Computer network architects
- Median annual wage: $102,870
- Median hourly wage: $49.46
- Total employment: 70 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $103,550
- Median hourly wage: $49.79
- Total employment: 90 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Mortgage rates fall to 10‑month low, offering relief for Hickory buyers
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Electrical engineers
- Median annual wage: $103,960
- Median hourly wage: $49.98
- Total employment: 220 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Facilities managers
- Median annual wage: $106,350
- Median hourly wage: $51.13
- Total employment: 90 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Engineers, all other
- Median annual wage: $107,970
- Median hourly wage: $51.91
- Total employment: 50 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Training and development managers
- Median annual wage: $108,800
- Median hourly wage: $52.31
- Total employment: 30 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $110,370
- Median hourly wage: $53.06
- Total employment: 110 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in the Hickory metro area
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $111,990
- Median hourly wage: $53.84
- Total employment: 550 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $112,070
- Median hourly wage: $53.88
- Total employment: 150 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $117,770
- Median hourly wage: $56.62
- Total employment: 80 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $120,520
- Median hourly wage: $57.94
- Total employment: 290 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $121,590
- Median hourly wage: $58.46
- Total employment: 360 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The 30 most popular homes for sale in Hickory
Stokkete // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $122,710
- Median hourly wage: $59.00
- Total employment: 200 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $125,110
- Median hourly wage: $60.15
- Total employment: 370 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $131,710
- Median hourly wage: $63.32
- Total employment: 40 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $132,480
- Median hourly wage: $63.69
- Total employment: 300 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $135,230
- Median hourly wage: $65.01
- Total employment: 320 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The most expensive homes sold in Hickory this year
fizkes // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $140,360
- Median hourly wage: $67.48
- Total employment: 180 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $151,820
- Median hourly wage: $72.99
- Total employment: 210 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VE.Studio // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $161,750
- Median hourly wage: $77.77
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $166,080
- Median hourly wage: $79.85
- Total employment: 170 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $169,520
- Median hourly wage: $81.50
- Total employment: 120 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated cheap eats in Hickory by diners
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $214,340
- Median hourly wage: $103.05
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $226,460
- Median hourly wage: $108.87
- Total employment: 80 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: $236,800
- Median hourly wage: $113.84
- Total employment: 60 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 400 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Hickory in the last week
