Average Salaries in Hawaii
Explore salaries across 552 occupations in Hawaii. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $74K, +12.5% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates. Coverage: 552 occupations and 609,100 total jobs in Hawaii.
How the state compares
Hawaii pays modestly above the national average. Most occupations here earn more than their national equivalents, but the gap is smaller than in top-tier markets.
Hawaii has a smaller labor market. Some occupations may have limited local demand or a narrower range of employers.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Physicians, All Other. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in Hawaii
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Highest-paid occupations in Hawaii
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | $339.3K | 1,830 |
| Obstetricians And Gynecologists | $338.1K | 140 |
| Psychiatrists | $290K | 170 |
| Chief Executives | $281.6K | 470 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $218.2K | 260 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, And Magistrates | $211.8K | 120 |
| Pediatricians, General | $197.1K | 470 |
| Nurse Midwives | $170.1K | N/A |
| Dentists, General | $167.8K | 830 |
| Physician Assistants | $164.1K | 530 |
Largest occupations in Hawaii
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 24,130 | $35.3K |
| Retail Salespersons | 19,180 | $37.8K |
| Waiters And Waitresses | 14,090 | $62.4K |
| General And Operations Managers | 13,380 | $108.2K |
| Registered Nurses | 12,940 | $136.3K |
| Office Clerks, General | 12,930 | $42.3K |
| Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners | 11,230 | $37.7K |
| Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners | 11,120 | $51.6K |
| Cooks, Restaurant | 11,090 | $45.4K |
| Cashiers | 10,780 | $36.8K |
What Hawaii specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in Hawaii than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Most concentrated occupations in Hawaii
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Motorboat Operators | 32.64 | $76.3K |
| Dancers | 14.76 | N/A |
| Baggage Porters And Bellhops | 11.94 | $42.2K |
| Astronomers | 11.67 | $102K |
| Hoist And Winch Operators | 11.17 | $107.1K |
| Tour And Travel Guides | 6.35 | $45.9K |
| Agricultural Workers, All Other | 6.10 | $46.7K |
| Judicial Law Clerks | 6.09 | $47K |
| Nursing Instructors And Teachers, Postsecondary | 6.02 | $129.5K |
| Anthropologists And Archeologists | 5.81 | $84.5K |
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $89.7K | Neurologists |
| Washington | $86.5K | Cardiologists |
| New York | $83.2K | Cardiologists |
| California | $83.2K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| Massachusetts | $81.2K | Radiologists |
| New Jersey | $80.4K | Radiologists |
| Minnesota | $79.9K | Radiologists |
| Alaska | $79.6K | Emergency Medicine Physicians |
Metros inside Hawaii
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Major metros in Hawaii
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $74K | 423,710 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $72.7K | 67,840 |
Common salary questions for Hawaii
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other states with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.