NAICS 52

Finance and Insurance in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Metro Market Score 33.1 (Favorable), ranked #64 of 331 metros. 487 establishments, 2,111 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 33.1
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Favorable

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national finance and insurance average.

Labor costs are a clear advantage in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton's finance and insurance sector. The wage competitiveness index of 11.8 puts it among the lowest-cost metros, and wage pressure at 40.1 suggests that gap is holding steady.

Industry Concentration
5.4
LQ: 0.34
Rank #18 of 331 metros
Wage Competitiveness
11.8
$70,023 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 30.8
Employment growth index
Rank #230 of 331 metros
Wage Pressure
40.1
YoY wage change index

487 Finance and Insurance Firms in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

487
Establishments
-0.6% YoY
2,111
Total Employment
-2.8% YoY
$70,023
Average Annual Wage
+3.9% YoY
0.34
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton vs North Carolina Statewide

How this metro's finance and insurance market compares to North Carolina overall. The state ranks #17/51 for entry risk.

Measure Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton NC Statewide
Overall Score 33.1 Favorable 48.4 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #64 of 331 metros #17 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

Construction 19.7 Accommodation and Food Services 30.8 Other Services 33.5 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 38.4 Retail Trade 42.7 Administrative and Support Services 45.1 Information 45.4

Finance and Insurance in Other North Carolina Metros

Jacksonville 24.0 #17/331 Rocky Mount 25.5 #22/331 Goldsboro 27.5 #29/331 Greenville 39.1 #97/331 Wilmington 39.7 #102/331 Pinehurst-Southern Pines 41.8 #116/331 Fayetteville 43.0 #127/331 Asheville 59.2 #240/331 Burlington 61.4 #252/331 Durham-Chapel Hill 62.0 #259/331

+ 4 more metros. View all in North Carolina →

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton's finance and insurance sector, the employment growth component (69.2) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.