Industrial Engineer salary in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Industrial Engineers in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median of $86,640 a year ($41.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 670 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,290 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $102,440. Pay here is 13% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $99,310. There are 4.4 industrial engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $90,820, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for industrial engineers in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,600 | $29.62 |
| 25th percentile | $74,340 | $35.74 |
| Median | $86,640 | $41.66 |
| 75th percentile | $102,310 | $49.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,290 | $61.68 |
| Average (mean) | $90,820 | $43.66 |
Half of industrial engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,220 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,610 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,332.31 |
| Weekly | $1,666.15 |
| Hourly | $41.66 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $86,640 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Industrial Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $104,030 | 1,710 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $102,890 | 1,150 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $102,090 | 2,680 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $101,500 | 1,060 |
| Asheville, NC | $100,490 | 500 |
| Wilmington, NC | $99,540 | 360 |
| Greenville, NC | $98,880 | 280 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $97,760 | 750 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $97,220 | 50 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $95,930 | 1,050 |
| Burlington, NC | $95,870 | 190 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $92,840 | 380 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $92,080 | 160 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $87,170 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for industrial engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $156,510 |
| Washington | $129,050 |
| Oregon | $128,290 |
| New Mexico | $128,090 |
| California | $124,600 |
| Hawaii | $123,800 |
| Louisiana | $122,920 |
| Wyoming | $122,070 |
| Delaware | $120,190 |
| Maryland | $119,930 |
See Industrial Engineer pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | $89,960 | $43.25 |
| Electrical Engineer | $107,750 | $51.80 |
| Civil Engineer | $94,720 | $45.54 |
| Engineers, All Other | $125,160 | $60.18 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $78,720 | $37.84 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $60,290 | $28.98 |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $77,590 | $37.31 |
| Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | $57,810 | $27.79 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $64,060 | $30.80 |
| Mechanical Drafter | $47,570 | $22.87 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $57,990 | $27.88 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $50,090 | $24.08 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2112. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a industrial engineer make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median salary for industrial engineers in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $86,640 a year, or $41.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid industrial engineers make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The top 10% of industrial engineers in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn at least $128,290 a year. The top 25% earn $102,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for industrial engineers in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,600 a year, and a quarter of industrial engineers earn $74,340 or less.
How many industrial engineers work in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
About 670 industrial engineers are employed in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.