Chief Executive salary in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Chief Executives in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median of $312,730 a year ($150.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $129,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $520,540 for the top 10%. That is 46% higher than the national median of $213,990. Pay here is about the same as the North Carolina statewide median of $314,290. There are 0.31 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.23). The average (mean) salary is $314,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $129,980 | $62.49 |
| 25th percentile | $205,540 | $98.82 |
| Median | $312,730 | $150.35 |
| 75th percentile | $402,060 | $193.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $520,540 | $250.26 |
| Average (mean) | $314,070 | $150.99 |
Half of chief executives 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 | $26,060.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $13,030.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $12,028.08 |
| Weekly | $6,014.04 |
| Hourly | $150.35 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chief Executive salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $381,330 | 140 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $354,310 | 160 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $329,030 | 740 |
| Wilmington, NC | $298,730 | 30 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $297,350 | 530 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $286,050 | 360 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $273,710 | 80 |
| Asheville, NC | $270,520 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for chief executives
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $341,630 |
| Washington | $339,810 |
| Illinois | $331,920 |
| North Carolina | $314,290 |
| Virginia | $310,740 |
| New Jersey | $310,440 |
| Connecticut | $295,120 |
| Hawaii | $281,640 |
| South Dakota | $280,900 |
| New York | $257,980 |
See Chief Executive pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $95,640 | $45.98 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $124,290 | $59.75 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $106,590 | $51.24 |
| Managers, All Other | $110,140 | $52.95 |
| Sales Manager | $132,060 | $63.49 |
| Financial Manager | $138,150 | $66.42 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $81,750 | — |
| Construction Manager | $104,470 | $50.23 |
| Food Service Manager | $72,140 | $34.68 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $94,750 | $45.55 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $163,010 | $78.37 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $170,730 | $82.08 |
| Marketing Manager | $151,190 | $72.69 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $84,050 | $40.41 |
More: Management 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 11-1011. 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 chief executive make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median salary for chief executives in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $312,730 a year, or $150.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $129,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $520,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The top 10% of chief executives in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn at least $520,540 a year. The top 25% earn $402,060 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $129,980 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $205,540 or less.
How many chief executives work in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
About 50 chief executives are employed in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.