Average salary in Hawaii

The beautiful state of Hawaii offers a unique financial landscape that can be challenging to define. Despite its relatively small size, Hawaii is known for its high cost of living and can present a range of earning opportunities depending on where you are located. Whether you already reside in Hawaii or are considering a move to this paradise, understanding the financial landscape is essential.

Numerous sources rank Hawaii as one of the most expensive states to live in, with its remote location and unique natural environment contributing to higher costs. According to data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, Hawaii ranks as the second most expensive state in the US to live in. Given these high living costs, it is no surprise that many are attracted to the earning potential that Hawaii offers. But which areas in Hawaii offer the highest average salaries?  

Average salary in Hawaii by city

Earnings in Hawaii can vary depending on the area, with urban centers generally offering higher salaries. Cities like Honolulu and Kahului have average salaries that range well into the six-figure range, while rural areas such as Hilo may offer lower average salaries.   

Average earnings by city—or any other geographical metric—is just one way of calculating wealth, and certainly shouldn’t be the only way you look at your own earning potential in a given place. It doesn’t take into account the type of jobs that people do to earn above or below this average bracket, and omits any consideration for the number of people living in a household. However, it’s certainly one way of establishing which place offers good earning opportunities.  

To provide an idea of average earnings in Hawaii, we can look at the US Census Bureau's latest American Community Survey, which has calculated the average earnings for the state's largest areas. The top-earning areas in Hawaii include Honolulu, Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, and the Kauai nonmetropolitan area, with average salaries ranging from around $70,000 to $96,000 per year. 

Average salary in Hawaii by county

Reviewing average salaries in Hawaii by metropolitan area is not necessarily an adequate metric for average salaries across the state, since it’s entirely urban focused. A good idea is to weigh these figures up against the average salary in Hawaii by county, as this will take areas outside the main cities into account and offer a broader idea of salary ranges.  

The same survey from the US Census Bureau gives further insight this way, with the average household income calculated for each county, where possible.   

Highest paying jobs in Hawaii

There’s another weighty factor that will influence how much you earn if you live in Hawaii: your job type. Average salaries for various sectors and job roles can vary massively across the state, so it’s absolutely something to consider when looking at salaries by location.  

Zippia has calculated a comprehensive list of annual salaries by job title. You can also find the top 10 highest-paying titles in Hawaii below.  

Frequently asked questions about salaries in Hawaii

What is the average salary in Hawaii by age? 

Alongside location and occupation, salaries in Hawaii are also dependent on age, since more senior workers will be paid more. Then, when they retire, their income will dip again as they will rely on pensions and other forms of set income. You can also check out the complete guide to retirement in Hawaii here. 

The Census Bureau data finds that householders under 25 have a median household income of $32,686; householders aged 24 to 44 years old have a median income of $64,694; those aged 45 to 64 years old have a median income of $79,371; and those 65 and older have a median income of $56,580.  

What is a ‘good’ salary in Hawaii? 

The median income in Hawaii is $66,259. Defining what constitutes a 'good' salary depends on various factors, including the cost of living, the type of job, and individual needs. For instance, $120,000 may be considered a higher-than-average salary in Hawaii, but this could still be inadequate in high-cost areas such as Honolulu. 

What is the average salary in Hawaii by hour? 

If Americans work an average of 1,801 hours per year—at 37.5 hours a week—then the average hourly salary in Hawaii is $33.93.  

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