Quick answer: The Hickory metro employs about 260 transportation, storage, and distribution managers (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through ASCM and the employers you are targeting.
Compare master’s in supply chain management programs enrolling now:
Licensing
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. There is no license for supply chain work. The recognized credentials come from ASCM, principally CPIM for production and inventory management and CSCP for the end-to-end supply chain. Federal transportation regulation applies to carriers and operations rather than to the planner personally.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
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This page lists 1 school
within 76 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
1 of them carries a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
What Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers Earn in Hickory
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers in the Hickory area earn a median $94,750 per year, below the national median of $107,230 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Master’s in Supply Chain Management Pay in Hickory, NC
Metric
Hickory metro
North Carolina
National
Median annual wage
$94,750
$106,100
$107,230
10th percentile
$63,360
$66,090
$65,120
25th percentile
$82,110
$82,870
$82,440
75th percentile
$129,400
$143,490
$146,770
90th percentile
$171,700
$191,650
$194,900
Employment
260
6,650
221,180
Location quotient
1.18
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The Hickory median of $94,750 is below the national median of $107,230, and below the North Carolina statewide median of $106,100 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 1.18 means transportation, storage, and distribution managers are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Supply chain employment concentrates around ports, distribution hubs, manufacturing and military logistics installations rather than following population.
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do transportation, storage, and distribution managers make in Hickory?
The median annual wage for transportation, storage, and distribution managers in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $94,750, below the national median of $107,230 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many transportation, storage, and distribution managers work in the Hickory area?
The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area employs about 260 transportation, storage, and distribution managers (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do transportation, storage, and distribution managers in Hickory need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. There is no license for supply chain work. The recognized credentials come from ASCM, principally CPIM for production and inventory management and CSCP for the end-to-end supply chain. Federal transportation regulation applies to carriers and operations rather than to the planner personally. Confirm current requirements with ASCM and the employers you are targeting.
Can I study master's in supply chain management online from Hickory?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies ASCM and the employers you are targeting.
Is Hickory a better market than the rest of North Carolina?
The Hickory metro median is $94,750 against a statewide median of $106,100 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers (SOC 11-3071), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
