Kitchen cabinets cost in Hickory, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (25 linear ft)
- $3,850 – $12,200
- Per linear ft
- $137 – $434
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $9,150
- Rank of 300 metros
- #254
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to replace kitchen cabinets in Hickory, plan on $3,850 to $12,200 for 25 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $137 to $434 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 12% lower than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $23.20 an hour in the Hickory area, 20% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 25 linear ft in Hickory, NC, standard level
$6,350 to $9,700
About $226 to $345 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,150 | $4,100 |
| Labor | $2,500 | $4,500 |
| Permits and fees | $710 | $1,050 |
| Total | $6,350 | $9,700 |
Cost breakdown for 25 linear ft in Hickory, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,400 | $3,600 | $4,850 | 45% |
| Labor | $1,000 | $3,500 | $6,000 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $440 | $880 | $1,350 | 11% |
| Total | $3,850 | $8,000 | $12,200 | 100% |
Where the Hickory price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 80% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $23.20 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Hickory is 0.80 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 44% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Hickory metro is 96.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 25 linear ft comes to $3,600, compared with $3,750 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (88.5) and land at $440 to $1,350.
Hickory labor market for kitchen cabinets
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Hickory is 0.80 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $23.20 an hour, which is 20% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.63 and $27.52 an hour. BLS counts 250 of them working in the area, 16.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Electricians (47-2111), 10% of the weighting: a median of $25.83 an hour, 15% below the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $22.42 and $31.22 an hour. About 570 work in the metro. That is 37.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $24.68 an hour, which is 20% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $21.99 and $29.44 an hour. BLS counts 330 of them working in the area, 21.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($27.52 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $520. At the 25th percentile ($20.63) it shrinks by about $310. The total moves by 6.5% or 3.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 154,090 jobs in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton area. That makes it the 152nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.10% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $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 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $21.99 | $24.68 | $29.44 | $30.67 | 0.80 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.80 | |||||
How Hickory compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 25 linear ft range from $7,950 to $8,350 across Hickory and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NCthis page | $3,850 – $12,200 | $8,000 | |
| Johnson City, TN60 miles | $3,850 – $12,100 | $7,950 | −1% |
| Charlotte, NC60 miles | $3,950 – $12,700 | $8,350 | +4% |
| Asheville, NC65 miles | $3,950 – $12,700 | $8,350 | +4% |
| Winston, NC65 miles | $3,900 – $12,400 | $8,150 | +2% |
| Spartanburg, SC70 miles | $3,950 – $12,700 | $8,300 | +4% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $3,900 – $12,500 | $8,200 | +2% |
| United States | $4,250 – $14,000 | $9,150 | +14% |
Across 300 US metros, Hickory comes in at #254 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $12,000; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $7,050 (midpoints, 25 linear ft). Statewide, Hickory is 2% below the North Carolina figure.
Other North Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $3,950 – $12,700 | $8,350 | +4% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $4,000 – $12,700 | $8,350 | +4% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $3,950 – $12,500 | $8,250 | +3% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $4,000 – $12,800 | $8,400 | +5% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $3,900 – $12,400 | $8,150 | +2% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $3,950 – $12,600 | $8,300 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Hickory's
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 | $3,550 – $10,600 | $7,050 | −12% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $3,900 – $12,200 | $8,050 | level |
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $4,550 – $15,100 | $9,800 | +22% |
| Gainesville, FL | 152,670 jobs | $3,900 – $12,300 | $8,100 | +1% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Hickory bid
Permit
Kitchen remodeling permits are $500-$1,500 where one is needed, usually when you change layout, plumbing or wiring.
Stock, semi-custom or custom
Stock cabinets run $100-$400 per linear foot installed, semi-custom $150-$700, and custom $500-$1,200 (HomeGuide).
Layout changes
Keeping the plumbing and wiring where it is saves real money. Moving them brings in plumbers and electricians.
What nearby projects cost in Hickory
Because every project leans on different trades, Hickory's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −7% and shower pan −14%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,200 – $29,300 | −7% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $310 – $870 | −9% |
| Front door | 1 door | $440 – $2,350 | −7% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,100 – $20,400 | −12% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $770 – $2,450 | −14% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −10% |
Hickory: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Hickory wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$3,850 to $7,200
Stock cabinets, same layout
Standard
$6,350 to $9,700
Semi-custom with upgraded finishes
Premium
$8,850 to $12,200
Custom cabinetry, new layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small galley (15 linear ft) | $2,500 – $4,650 | $4,100 – $6,250 | $5,700 – $7,850 |
| 10x10 kitchen (20 linear ft) | $3,200 – $5,900 | $5,250 – $7,950 | $7,300 – $10,000 |
| average kitchen (25 linear ft) | $3,850 – $7,200 | $6,350 – $9,700 | $8,850 – $12,200 |
| large kitchen (40 linear ft) | $5,900 – $11,000 | $9,750 – $14,900 | $13,600 – $18,700 |
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Kitchen cabinets in Hickory: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace kitchen cabinets in Hickory?
For 25 linear ft, expect $3,850 to $12,200 in the Hickory area. A standard-spec job lands at $6,350 to $9,700. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for kitchen cabinets in Hickory?
About $137 to $434 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $440 to $1,350 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $500.
+Is kitchen cabinets cheaper in Hickory or Johnson City?
Johnson City is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 25 linear ft there is $7,950, which is 1% less than Hickory ($8,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Hickory?
About 44% at the midpoint, or $3,500 out of $8,000. Materials are 45% and permits 11%. Nationally, labor is 48%.
+What would average kitchen (25 linear ft) cost in Hickory?
$3,850 to $12,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen cabinets need a permit in Hickory?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $440 to $1,350 for fees in the Hickory area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Hickory expensive for kitchen cabinets compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Hickory is 2% below the North Carolina statewide estimate ($8,200 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Hickory?
The BLS median is $23.20 an hour in the Hickory area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.63 to $27.52.
+What do basic and premium kitchen cabinets work cost in Hickory?
For 25 linear ft, basic work runs $3,850 to $7,200 and premium work $8,850 to $12,200. Basic means: stock cabinets, same layout. Premium means: custom cabinetry, new layout.
Kitchen cabinets 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 Do Kitchen Cabinets Cost? (2026 Prices) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Cabinet Installation Cost? (New 2026 Prices) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed price minus HomeGuide's labor figure of $50-$300 per linear foot, matched low-to-low and high-to-high. Treat the split as a rough guide: labor swings with the cabinet type.