Window replacement cost in Hickory, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (10 windows)
- $4,100 – $13,900
- Per window
- $412 – $1,394
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $9,750
- Rank of 300 metros
- #228
- 1 = most expensive
Replacement windows in Hickory, NC usually costs $4,100 to $13,900 for 10 windows. That works out to about $412 to $1,394 per window before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $720 less. Glaziers earn a median of $22.20 an hour in the Hickory area, 19% below the US median of $27.44.
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Estimated cost for 10 windows in Hickory, NC, standard level
$7,050 to $11,000
About $706 to $1,099 per window before permits. Labor is about 24% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,250 | $8,450 |
| Labor | $1,850 | $2,550 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,050 | $11,000 |
Cost breakdown for 10 windows in Hickory, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $6,850 | $10,900 | 76% |
| Labor | $1,300 | $2,200 | $3,050 | 24% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $4,100 | $9,050 | $13,900 | 100% |
Why Hickory prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on glaziers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $22.20 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Hickory is 0.82 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 24% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median.
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 $7,100 nationally becomes $6,850 here (midpoint, 10 windows). Permits follow the all-items index of 88.5: $0 to $0.
Data note: 50% 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.
Planning more than one job in Hickory?
Jobs that often go together with windows are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Hickory wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, front door comes out highest (−7%) and patio door lowest (−11%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patio door | 1 door | $550 – $5,350 | −11% |
| Front door | 1 door | $440 – $2,350 | −7% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $310 – $870 | −9% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,550 – $22,700 | −10% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $640 – $3,450 | −7% |
What local crews earn in Hickory
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 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 0.82.
Glaziers (47-2121) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Hickory metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median: $22.20 an hour against $27.44 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $19.56 and $26.61 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% 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 general maintenance and repair workers (49-9071, weighted 10%) the local median is $22.93 an hour, which is 4% below the national $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $18.73 and $29.05 an hour. BLS counts 1,500 of them working in the area, 97.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 98.4), so the local bench is about average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (glaziers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $210 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $130. That is a swing of roughly 1.4% to 2.4% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glaziers (47-2121) | 50% | $19.56 | $22.20 | $26.61 | $27.44 | 0.81 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $20.63 | $23.20 | $27.52 | $29.12 | 0.80 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 10% | $18.73 | $22.93 | $29.05 | $23.84 | 0.96 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.82 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Hickory bid
Count
Replacing 10 to 15 windows runs $4,500-$22,500; at 25 windows it is $11,250-$37,500.
Permit
Window permits are $50-$200 each, or $400-$600 total for a multi-window job, and are often only needed when you change the opening (HomeGuide). No permit fee is included here because many cities do not ask for one on same-size replacements.
Frame material
Vinyl windows run $350-$1,500 each installed, fiberglass $400-$2,000, composite $400-$2,300, and wood $800-$3,800 (HomeGuide).
Pick a size, pick a tier: window replacement 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 a few windows (5 windows) to whole house (25 windows).
Basic
$4,100 to $8,050
Standard vinyl single-hung, same openings
Standard
$7,050 to $11,000
Mid-grade vinyl or composite, a few larger units
Premium
$10,000 to $13,900
Fiberglass or wood, large or custom sizes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| a few windows (5 windows) | $2,050 – $4,000 | $3,550 – $5,500 | $5,000 – $6,950 |
| small house (10 windows) | $4,100 – $8,050 | $7,050 – $11,000 | $10,000 – $13,900 |
| average house (15 windows) | $6,150 – $12,100 | $10,600 – $16,500 | $15,000 – $20,900 |
| whole house (25 windows) | $10,300 – $20,100 | $17,700 – $27,500 | $25,000 – $34,900 |
Is Hickory cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (10 windows), priced for the nearest metros. Spartanburg is the priciest of the group at $9,200.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NCthis page | $4,100 – $13,900 | $9,050 | |
| Johnson City, TN60 miles | $4,100 – $13,900 | $9,050 | level |
| Charlotte, NC60 miles | $4,200 – $14,100 | $9,150 | +1% |
| Asheville, NC65 miles | $4,150 – $14,000 | $9,100 | +1% |
| Winston, NC65 miles | $4,150 – $14,000 | $9,050 | level |
| Spartanburg, SC70 miles | $4,200 – $14,200 | $9,200 | +2% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $4,150 – $14,000 | $9,050 | level |
| United States | $4,500 – $15,000 | $9,750 | +8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Hickory ranks #228 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Hickory is 0% below the North Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in North Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $4,200 – $14,100 | $9,150 | +1% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $4,150 – $14,100 | $9,100 | +1% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $4,100 – $14,000 | $9,050 | level |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $4,150 – $14,100 | $9,100 | +1% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $4,150 – $14,000 | $9,050 | level |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $4,150 – $14,000 | $9,050 | level |
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 | $3,900 – $13,300 | $8,600 | −5% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $4,150 – $14,000 | $9,050 | level |
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $4,850 – $16,100 | $10,500 | +16% |
| Gainesville, FL | 152,670 jobs | $4,150 – $13,900 | $9,050 | level |
Hickory weather and the window replacement calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Hickory Faa Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
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.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| 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
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $7,050 to $11,000 for Hickory, NC is attached.
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Window replacement in Hickory: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace windows in Hickory?
For 10 windows, expect $4,100 to $13,900 in the Hickory area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,050 to $11,000. Small jobs usually cost more per window and large ones less.
+What is the price per window for windows in Hickory?
About $412 to $1,394 per window for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $450 to $1,500.
+Is windows cheaper in Hickory or Johnson City?
Johnson City is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 10 windows there is $9,050, which is 0% more than Hickory ($9,050). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Hickory?
About 24% at the midpoint, or $2,200 out of $9,050. Materials are 76% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 27%.
+What would average house (15 windows) cost in Hickory?
$6,150 to $20,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does windows need a permit in Hickory?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Hickory area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Hickory expensive for windows compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Hickory is 0% below the North Carolina statewide estimate ($9,050 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do glaziers earn in Hickory?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $22.20 an hour, compared with $27.44 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.56 to $26.61.
+What do basic and premium windows work cost in Hickory?
For 10 windows, basic work runs $4,100 to $8,050 and premium work $10,000 to $13,900. Basic means: standard vinyl single-hung, same openings. Premium means: fiberglass or wood, large or custom sizes.
+Is there a bad season to replace windows 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.
Window replacement 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 Window Replacement 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 = 65% of the low installed price and 75% of the high one, from HomeGuide's statement that the window unit is 65-75% of replacement cost.