Kitchen remodel cost in Hickory, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $17,200 – $29,300
- Per sq ft
- $140 – $233
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #249
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen remodel in Hickory, NC usually costs $17,200 to $29,300 for 120 sq ft. That works out to about $140 to $233 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,750 less. 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 120 sq ft in Hickory, NC, standard level
$20,900 to $25,700
About $168 to $205 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 17% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,500 | $20,200 |
| Labor | $3,600 | $4,400 |
| Permits and fees | $710 | $1,050 |
| Total | $20,900 | $25,700 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Hickory, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,800 | $18,400 | $23,000 | 79% |
| Labor | $3,000 | $4,000 | $5,000 | 17% |
| Permits and fees | $440 | $880 | $1,350 | 4% |
| Total | $17,200 | $23,300 | $29,300 | 100% |
Why Hickory prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 45% 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 17% of the total.
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 $19,000 nationally becomes $18,400 here (midpoint, 120 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 88.5: $440 to $1,350.
Data note: 20% 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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen remodel pricing 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 small kitchen (100 sq ft) to large kitchen (300 sq ft).
Basic
$17,200 to $22,100
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$20,900 to $25,700
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$24,500 to $29,300
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $14,400 – $18,500 | $17,500 – $21,600 | $20,600 – $24,600 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $17,200 – $22,100 | $20,900 – $25,700 | $24,500 – $29,300 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $28,400 – $36,200 | $34,300 – $42,100 | $40,100 – $48,000 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $42,400 – $53,900 | $51,100 – $62,600 | $59,700 – $71,300 |
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.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% 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 15%) 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.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 15% 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 10% 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.
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), 5% 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 (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $330 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $200. That is a swing of roughly 0.9% to 1.4% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $20.63 | $23.20 | $27.52 | $29.12 | 0.80 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $22.42 | $25.83 | $31.22 | $30.38 | 0.85 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $21.99 | $24.68 | $29.44 | $30.67 | 0.80 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $19.02 | $21.47 | $24.36 | $26.77 | 0.80 | state |
| 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) | 5% | $15.51 | $19.17 | $21.11 | $23.75 | 0.81 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.80 | |||||
How Hickory compares
Same job, same size (120 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Charlotte is the priciest of the group at $23,600. Johnson City is the cheapest at $23,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NCthis page | $17,200 – $29,300 | $23,300 | |
| Johnson City, TN60 miles | $17,100 – $29,100 | $23,100 | −1% |
| Charlotte, NC60 miles | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,600 | +2% |
| Asheville, NC65 miles | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,600 | +2% |
| Winston, NC65 miles | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,400 | level |
| Spartanburg, SC70 miles | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | +1% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | +1% |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | +7% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Hickory ranks #249 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Hickory is 1% below the North Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in North Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,600 | +2% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,600 | +2% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $17,500 – $29,700 | $23,600 | +1% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,700 | +2% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,400 | level |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,600 | +2% |
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 | $16,400 – $27,900 | $22,100 | −5% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | +1% |
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $19,800 – $33,700 | $26,700 | +15% |
| Gainesville, FL | 152,670 jobs | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | level |
Related projects, priced for Hickory
Jobs that often go together with kitchen remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Hickory wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, window replacement comes out highest (−7%) and home addition lowest (−14%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,850 – $12,200 | −12% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,100 – $20,400 | −12% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,100 – $13,900 | −7% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $32,500 – $65,900 | −14% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $770 – $2,450 | −14% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −10% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Hickory bid
Cabinets
In a 10x10 kitchen, cabinets alone are $3,000-$11,000 for stock or semi-custom and up to $26,500 for fully custom.
Counters
New countertops are $50-$150 per square foot installed; HomeGuide gives $1,500-$6,000 for an average kitchen.
Structure
Moving or removing walls can need a structural engineer at $1,900-$3,700+.
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Kitchen remodel in Hickory: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Hickory?
For 120 sq ft, expect $17,200 to $29,300 in the Hickory area. A standard-spec job lands at $20,900 to $25,700. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen remodel in Hickory?
About $140 to $233 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $440 to $1,350 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $250.
+Is kitchen remodel cheaper in Hickory or Johnson City?
Johnson City is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $23,100, which is 1% less than Hickory ($23,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Hickory?
About 17% at the midpoint, or $4,000 out of $23,300. Materials are 79% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Hickory?
$28,400 to $48,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel 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 remodel compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Hickory is 1% below the North Carolina statewide estimate ($23,500 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 remodel work cost in Hickory?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $17,200 to $22,100 and premium work $24,500 to $29,300. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen 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 Kitchen Remodel Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = 70% of the low installed price and 85% of the high one, from HomeGuide's statement that professional labor is 15-30% of a kitchen remodeling budget. Cost to Renovate's mid-range kitchen split (45% labor, 50% materials) sits inside that band.