Metal roof cost in Hickory, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $8,750 – $29,300
- Per sq ft of roof
- $4.30 – $14.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #233
- 1 = most expensive
Hickory homeowners pay roughly $8,750 to $29,300 to install a metal roof at 2,000 sq ft of roof, or $4.30 to $14.50 per sq ft of roof (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Hickory is 11% lower. Roofers earn a median of $22.51 an hour in the Hickory area, 16% below the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Hickory, NC, standard level
$14,900 to $23,100
About $7.35 to $11.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 53% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,000 | $11,400 |
| Labor | $8,700 | $11,400 |
| Permits and fees | $230 | $350 |
| Total | $14,900 | $23,100 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Hickory, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $8,700 | $15,500 | 46% |
| Labor | $6,700 | $10,000 | $13,400 | 53% |
| Permits and fees | $130 | $290 | $440 | 2% |
| Total | $8,750 | $19,000 | $29,300 | 100% |
Why Hickory prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on roofers, who do 70% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $22.51 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Hickory is 0.84 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 53% 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 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $8,700, compared with $9,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (88.5) and land at $130 to $440.
Specs and site conditions that change a Hickory bid
Metal and gauge
Galvalume and galvanized steel are budget-friendly; copper and zinc are the top of the range.
Labor
Metal roof labor is $4-$8 per sq ft, or $400-$800 per roofing square, and standing seam needs specialist crews.
Other metals
Tin runs $600-$1,800 per roofing square (100 sq ft) installed and aluminum $700-$1,700 per square (HomeGuide).
Cost by quality level and size in Hickory
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 3 common sizes.
Basic
$8,750 to $17,000
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$14,900 to $23,100
Standing seam steel
Premium
$21,100 to $29,300
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $5,300 – $10,300 | $9,050 – $14,000 | $12,800 – $17,800 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $8,750 – $17,000 | $14,900 – $23,100 | $21,100 – $29,300 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $12,200 – $23,700 | $20,800 – $32,300 | $29,400 – $40,800 |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 0.84 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 70%) the local median is $22.51 an hour, which is 16% below the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $18.30 and $26.51 an hour. BLS counts 80 of them working in the area, 5.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For sheet metal workers (47-2211, weighted 20%) the local median is $22.50 an hour, which is 24% below the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $20.03 and $27.29 an hour. BLS counts 70 of them working in the area, 4.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 7.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 10% of the weighting: a median of $21.42 an hour, 5% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.03 and $24.58 an hour. About 800 work in the metro. That is 51.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the roofers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($26.51 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,250. At the 25th percentile ($18.30) it shrinks by about $1,350. The total moves by 6.6% or 7.0%, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $18.30 | $22.51 | $26.51 | $26.65 | 0.84 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $20.03 | $22.50 | $27.29 | $29.71 | 0.76 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $17.03 | $21.42 | $24.58 | $22.66 | 0.95 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
Is Hickory cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (2,000 sq ft of roof), priced for the nearest metros. Asheville is the priciest of the group at $19,800. Spartanburg is the cheapest at $18,900.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NCthis page | $8,750 – $29,300 | $19,000 | |
| Johnson City, TN60 miles | $8,900 – $29,500 | $19,200 | +1% |
| Charlotte, NC60 miles | $9,050 – $29,900 | $19,500 | +2% |
| Asheville, NC65 miles | $9,250 – $30,300 | $19,800 | +4% |
| Winston, NC65 miles | $9,000 – $29,700 | $19,400 | +2% |
| Spartanburg, SC70 miles | $8,650 – $29,100 | $18,900 | −1% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $9,100 – $30,000 | $19,500 | +3% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | +12% |
Across 300 US metros, Hickory comes in at #233 from the top. The priciest is Worcester, MA at $29,600; the cheapest is Lubbock, TX at $17,000 (midpoints, 2,000 sq ft of roof). Statewide, Hickory is 3% below the North Carolina figure.
Other North Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $9,050 – $29,900 | $19,500 | +2% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $9,300 – $30,400 | $19,800 | +4% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $9,150 – $30,100 | $19,600 | +3% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $9,000 – $29,800 | $19,400 | +2% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $9,000 – $29,700 | $19,400 | +2% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $9,000 – $29,800 | $19,400 | +2% |
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 | $8,650 – $28,700 | $18,700 | −2% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $8,600 – $29,000 | $18,800 | −1% |
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $9,500 – $31,900 | $20,700 | +9% |
| Gainesville, FL | 152,670 jobs | $8,650 – $29,000 | $18,800 | −1% |
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, attic insulation runs −6% and roof replacement −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,400 – $11,300 | −10% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,850 | −8% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $930 – $3,750 | −6% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,550 – $22,700 | −10% |
When to schedule metal roof in Hickory
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Hickory Faa Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Hickory: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average daytime high under 45°F) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Hickory gets about 47 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (4.6 inches in August). The station averages about 33 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49 | 30 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 53 | 33 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 61 | 40 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 70 | 48 | 4.1 | Workable |
| May | 77 | 56 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 64 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 68 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 67 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 61 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 70 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 60 | 39 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 52 | 33 | 3.9 | Workable |
Get 3 local quotes
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Metal roof in Hickory: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Hickory?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $8,750 to $29,300 in the Hickory area. A standard-spec job lands at $14,900 to $23,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft of roof and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft of roof for metal roof in Hickory?
About $4.30 to $14.50 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $130 to $440 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Hickory or Johnson City?
Johnson City is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $19,200, which is 1% more than Hickory ($19,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Hickory?
About 53% at the midpoint, or $10,000 out of $19,000. Materials are 46% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Hickory?
$8,750 to $29,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Hickory?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $130 to $440 for fees in the Hickory area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Hickory expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Hickory is 3% below the North Carolina statewide estimate ($19,500 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Hickory?
The BLS median is $22.51 an hour in the Hickory area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.30 to $26.51.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Hickory?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $8,750 to $17,000 and premium work $21,100 to $29,300. Basic means: corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels. Premium means: aluminum or premium finish, complex roof.
+Is there a bad season to install a metal roof in Hickory?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
Metal roof 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 Metal Roof Cost? (2026) (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
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed range minus HomeGuide's $4-$8/sq ft labor range for metal roofs.