Bathroom remodel cost in Hickory, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,100 – $20,400
- Per sq ft
- $87.50 – $438
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #278
- 1 = most expensive
A bathroom remodel in Hickory, NC usually costs $4,100 to $20,400 for 45 sq ft. That works out to about $87.50 to $438 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,700 less. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $24.68 an hour in the Hickory area, 20% below the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Hickory, NC, standard level
$9,000 to $15,500
About $193 to $333 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,300 | $7,450 |
| Labor | $4,350 | $7,550 |
| Permits and fees | $340 | $550 |
| Total | $9,000 | $15,500 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Hickory, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $5,850 | $9,800 | 48% |
| Labor | $2,000 | $5,950 | $9,950 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $180 | $440 | $710 | 4% |
| Total | $4,100 | $12,300 | $20,400 | 100% |
Why Hickory prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 6 trades: plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters at 25%, tile and stone setters at 25%, carpenters at 20%, electricians at 10%, drywall and ceiling tile installers at 10%, painters, construction and maintenance at 10%. Weighted together, Hickory wages are 0.80 times the national level. Labor makes up about 49% of the midpoint estimate (53% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Hickory is at 96.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $6,100 nationally becomes $5,850 here (midpoint, 45 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 88.5: $180 to $710.
Data note: 35% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Hickory. The wage table below marks each row.
What local crews earn in Hickory
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 6 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Hickory the blend is 0.80.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 25% of the weighting: a median of $24.68 an hour, 20% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $21.99 and $29.44 an hour. About 330 work in the metro. That is 21.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 25% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Hickory metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median: $21.47 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $19.02 and $24.36 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 20% of the weighting: a median of $23.20 an hour, 20% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.63 and $27.52 an hour. About 250 work in the metro. That is 16.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $25.83 an hour, which is 15% below the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $22.42 and $31.22 an hour. BLS counts 570 of them working in the area, 37.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Hickory metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median: $21.67 an hour against $28.33 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $17.43 and $24.29 an hour.
Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141), 10% of the weighting: a median of $19.17 an hour, 19% below the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $15.51 and $21.11 an hour. About 130 work in the metro. That is 8.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 14.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $290 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $160. That is a swing of roughly 1.3% to 2.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton has 154,090 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 152nd by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 25% | $21.99 | $24.68 | $29.44 | $30.67 | 0.80 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $19.02 | $21.47 | $24.36 | $26.77 | 0.80 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $20.63 | $23.20 | $27.52 | $29.12 | 0.80 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $22.42 | $25.83 | $31.22 | $30.38 | 0.85 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $17.43 | $21.67 | $24.29 | $28.33 | 0.76 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $15.51 | $19.17 | $21.11 | $23.75 | 0.81 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.80 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Hickory
Jobs that often go together with bathroom remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Hickory wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−7%) and shower pan lowest (−14%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $770 – $2,450 | −14% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,200 – $29,300 | −7% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,850 – $12,200 | −12% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,100 – $13,900 | −7% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −10% |
Is Hickory cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Hickory. Johnson City is the lowest at about $12,100 (midpoint, 45 sq ft), 60 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NCthis page | $4,100 – $20,400 | $12,300 | |
| Johnson City, TN60 miles | $4,050 – $20,200 | $12,100 | −1% |
| Charlotte, NC60 miles | $4,300 – $21,200 | $12,700 | +4% |
| Asheville, NC65 miles | $4,300 – $21,400 | $12,800 | +5% |
| Winston, NC65 miles | $4,150 – $20,500 | $12,300 | level |
| Spartanburg, SC70 miles | $4,200 – $20,700 | $12,500 | +2% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $4,250 – $21,000 | $12,600 | +3% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | +14% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Hickory ranks #278 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Hickory is 3% below the North Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in North Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $4,300 – $21,200 | $12,700 | +4% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $4,300 – $21,300 | $12,800 | +4% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $4,300 – $21,300 | $12,800 | +4% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $4,300 – $21,300 | $12,800 | +4% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $4,150 – $20,500 | $12,300 | level |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $4,300 – $21,200 | $12,700 | +4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Hickory against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville, TX | 157,450 jobs | $3,950 – $19,500 | $11,700 | −5% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $4,250 – $21,000 | $12,600 | +3% |
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $5,200 – $25,800 | $15,500 | +26% |
| Gainesville, FL | 152,670 jobs | $4,200 – $20,800 | $12,500 | +2% |
Cost by quality level and size in Hickory
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Hickory. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from half bath (20 sq ft) to primary bath (100 sq ft).
Basic
$4,100 to $10,600
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$9,000 to $15,500
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$13,900 to $20,400
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $1,950 – $4,950 | $4,200 – $7,200 | $6,450 – $9,450 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $3,700 – $9,500 | $8,050 – $13,900 | $12,400 – $18,200 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $5,450 – $14,100 | $11,900 – $20,500 | $18,400 – $27,000 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $8,950 – $23,200 | $19,600 – $33,900 | $30,300 – $44,500 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Hickory bid
Contractor fee
A general contractor charges $50-$150 an hour or 10-20% of the project cost.
Permit
A bathroom remodel permit is $200-$800, more if you move walls (HomeGuide).
Size
HomeGuide's average-size bathroom comes to $3,500-$25,000+; per square foot it's $100-$500.
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Bathroom remodel in Hickory: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Hickory?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,100 to $20,400 in the Hickory area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,000 to $15,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Hickory?
About $87.50 to $438 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $180 to $710 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Hickory or Johnson City?
Johnson City is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $12,100, which is 1% less than Hickory ($12,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Hickory?
About 49% at the midpoint, or $5,950 out of $12,300. Materials are 48% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Hickory?
$5,450 to $27,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Hickory?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $180 to $710 for fees in the Hickory area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Hickory expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Hickory is 3% below the North Carolina statewide estimate ($12,600 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Hickory?
The BLS median is $24.68 an hour in the Hickory area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.99 to $29.44.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Hickory?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,100 to $10,600 and premium work $13,900 to $20,400. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Hickory
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = 45% of the installed price, from Cost to Renovate's mid-range split for bathroom projects (50% labor, 45% materials, 5% permits and design). Their sample is their own guides, not a survey of contractors, so treat the split as approximate.