Running a HVAC business in Hickory, NC
The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area has about 300 HVAC technicians. The median wage is $24.18 an hour, so half earn more and half earn less. That's 12% below the North Carolina median of $27.53. Nationally, the median is $29.33, so Hickory pays 18% less.
Market snapshot
- HVAC technicians employed in the metro area
- 300
- Median hourly wage
- $24.18
- Middle 50% earn
- $21.07 to $28.50 an hour
- Median annual wage
- $50,300
- North Carolina median hourly wage
- $27.53
- U.S. median hourly wage
- $29.33
- Job concentration
- 0.74× the national share
- Plumbing, heating and AC contractors in the metro area
- 120
- Hickory population
- 44,258
- Median year homes were built in Hickory
- 1982
Job concentration compares the share of local jobs held by HVAC technicians with the share nationwide. Above 1 means the trade is more concentrated here than average.
How Hickory ranks in North Carolina
- #8 of 14 North Carolina metros for the number of HVAC technicians
- #12 of 14 for median hourly wage
HVAC in nearby cities
| City | Workers in the metro | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 3,860 | $28.77 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 390 | $27.79 |
| Asheville, NC | 660 | $27.94 |
| Greenville, SC | 1,160 | $28.25 |
| Greensboro, NC | 1,170 | $28.14 |
| Burlington, NC | 280 | $25.21 |
How Tradesman helps HVAC businesses in Hickory
Good, better, best on one estimate
Offer a repair, a standard replacement and a high-efficiency system as options on one estimate. The homeowner picks and approves without calling you back.
Dispatch by who's closest
See every technician on the map and route the next no-cool call to the truck nearest to it.
Know which installs made money
Technicians clock time to each job and log equipment and material expenses with receipts, so you can see the real margin on every changeout.
Questions about HVAC in Hickory
How much do HVAC technicians make in Hickory?
In May 2025, the median wage for HVAC technicians in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area was $24.18 an hour. The middle half earned between $21.07 and $28.50 an hour.
How many HVAC technicians work in Hickory?
About 300 HVAC technicians worked in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How many plumbing, heating and AC contractors are in Hickory?
The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area had 120 establishments classified as plumbing, heating and AC contractors in 2023, according to the Census Bureau's County Business Patterns.
Sources
Figures cover the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area unless they name Hickory. Wages are for employees, not business owners.
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