High paying entry level jobs in Hawaii

These occupations in Hawaii ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in Hawaii run 10.0% above the national average (2024), so a Hawaii salary is worth about 0.91× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Hawaii.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Hawaii

OccupationMedian, Hawaii · Employed

1Dentists, General$167,820
Doctoral or professional degree
$83,310 – $416,000830
2Physician Assistants$164,050
Master's degree
$79,280 – $178,110530
3Pharmacists$163,220
Doctoral or professional degree
$127,410 – $177,2901,190
4Optometrists$154,620
Doctoral or professional degree
$107,090 – $205,390230
5Registered Nurses$136,320
Bachelor's degree
$82,500 – $147,83012,940
6Nurse Practitioners$135,570
Master's degree
$106,450 – $174,350550
7Veterinarians$130,120
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,460 – $188,130370
8Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$126,690
Bachelor's degree
$91,870 – $164,080310
9Lawyers$124,990
Doctoral or professional degree
$73,890 – $179,0102,270
10Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$124,430
Associate's degree
$83,900 – $135,660210
11Software Developers$124,040
Bachelor's degree
$64,690 – $238,9301,600
12Engineers, All Other$122,800
Bachelor's degree
$81,580 – $176,4101,100
13Computer Occupations, All Other$120,100
Bachelor's degree
$65,950 – $161,7002,080
14Computer Programmers$118,180
Bachelor's degree
$75,450 – $151,820450
15Social Workers, All Other$116,130
Bachelor's degree
$81,080 – $137,450200
16Electrical Engineers$106,350
Bachelor's degree
$73,890 – $156,5801,080
17Occupational Therapists$102,870
Master's degree
$78,670 – $118,240390
18Data Scientists$102,130
Bachelor's degree
$77,270 – $172,870300
19Physical Therapists$101,700
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,630 – $123,280950
20Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$101,700
Associate's degree
$39,150 – $115,440690
21Network and Computer Systems Administrators$101,450
Bachelor's degree
$72,230 – $145,7901,490
22Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary$101,010
Doctoral or professional degree
$64,060 – $166,970220
23Logisticians$100,340
Bachelor's degree
$63,790 – $143,020570
24Mechanical Engineers$98,740
Bachelor's degree
$66,110 – $141,500530
25Dental Hygienists$97,570
Associate's degree
$78,800 – $104,000830
26Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$96,200
Associate's degree
$67,280 – $120,270460
27Biological Scientists, All Other$95,600
Bachelor's degree
$74,530 – $120,270370
28Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$94,840
Bachelor's degree
$60,600 – $123,460640
29Financial and Investment Analysts$94,640
Bachelor's degree
$63,080 – $138,830600
30Civil Engineers$94,280
Bachelor's degree
$62,900 – $131,8102,640
31Respiratory Therapists$94,210
Associate's degree
$80,130 – $102,780510
32Business Operations Specialists, All Other$92,620
Bachelor's degree
$52,900 – $133,8604,030
33Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$92,520
Bachelor's degree
$61,970 – $143,020430
34Budget Analysts$92,380
Bachelor's degree
$63,790 – $120,270210
35Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$90,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,570 – $130,5601,150
36Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$90,040
Associate's degree
$45,200 – $120,270410
37Computer Systems Analysts$88,640
Bachelor's degree
$62,200 – $128,7201,670
38Urban and Regional Planners$85,590
Master's degree
$59,990 – $115,350450
39Anthropologists and Archeologists$84,530
Master's degree
$60,530 – $143,840210
40Surgical Technologists$82,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,370 – $94,010290
41Massage Therapists$81,280
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,660 – $166,7301,330
42Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$79,510
Bachelor's degree
$53,500 – $111,700670
43Project Management Specialists$78,000
Bachelor's degree
$53,930 – $150,4401,560
44Teachers and Instructors, All Other$77,360
Bachelor's degree
$47,330 – $120,270500
45Financial Specialists, All Other$77,190
Bachelor's degree
$50,030 – $127,420840
46Business Teachers, Postsecondary$76,860
Doctoral or professional degree
$39,710 – $139,370390
47Athletic Trainers$76,320
Master's degree
$56,110 – $92,500200
48Special Education Teachers, Preschool$75,120
Bachelor's degree
$58,170 – $95,300230
49Accountants and Auditors$74,500
Bachelor's degree
$49,860 – $117,8404,670
50Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$74,460
Bachelor's degree
$39,760 – $98,560550

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianHawaii	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$167,820	$83,310 – $416,000	830
2	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$164,050	$79,280 – $178,110	530
3	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$163,220	$127,410 – $177,290	1,190
4	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$154,620	$107,090 – $205,390	230
5	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$136,320	$82,500 – $147,830	12,940
6	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$135,570	$106,450 – $174,350	550
7	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$130,120	$62,460 – $188,130	370
8	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$126,690	$91,870 – $164,080	310
9	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$124,990	$73,890 – $179,010	2,270
10	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$124,430	$83,900 – $135,660	210
11	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$124,040	$64,690 – $238,930	1,600
12	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$122,800	$81,580 – $176,410	1,100
13	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$120,100	$65,950 – $161,700	2,080
14	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$118,180	$75,450 – $151,820	450
15	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$116,130	$81,080 – $137,450	200
16	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$106,350	$73,890 – $156,580	1,080
17	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$102,870	$78,670 – $118,240	390
18	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$102,130	$77,270 – $172,870	300
19	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$101,700	$78,630 – $123,280	950
20	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$101,700	$39,150 – $115,440	690
21	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$101,450	$72,230 – $145,790	1,490
22	Philosophy and Religion Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$101,010	$64,060 – $166,970	220
23	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$100,340	$63,790 – $143,020	570
24	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$98,740	$66,110 – $141,500	530
25	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$97,570	$78,800 – $104,000	830
26	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$96,200	$67,280 – $120,270	460
27	Biological Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$95,600	$74,530 – $120,270	370
28	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$94,840	$60,600 – $123,460	640
29	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$94,640	$63,080 – $138,830	600
30	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$94,280	$62,900 – $131,810	2,640
31	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$94,210	$80,130 – $102,780	510
32	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$92,620	$52,900 – $133,860	4,030
33	Social Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$92,520	$61,970 – $143,020	430
34	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$92,380	$63,790 – $120,270	210
35	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$90,830	$62,570 – $130,560	1,150
36	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$90,040	$45,200 – $120,270	410
37	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$88,640	$62,200 – $128,720	1,670
38	Urban and Regional PlannersMaster's degree	$85,590	$59,990 – $115,350	450
39	Anthropologists and ArcheologistsMaster's degree	$84,530	$60,530 – $143,840	210
40	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,640	$39,370 – $94,010	290
41	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,280	$36,660 – $166,730	1,330
42	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$79,510	$53,500 – $111,700	670
43	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$78,000	$53,930 – $150,440	1,560
44	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$77,360	$47,330 – $120,270	500
45	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$77,190	$50,030 – $127,420	840
46	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$76,860	$39,710 – $139,370	390
47	Athletic TrainersMaster's degree	$76,320	$56,110 – $92,500	200
48	Special Education Teachers, PreschoolBachelor's degree	$75,120	$58,170 – $95,300	230
49	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$74,500	$49,860 – $117,840	4,670
50	Meeting, Convention, and Event PlannersBachelor's degree	$74,460	$39,760 – $98,560	550

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Hawaii. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

More for Hawaii

Metro areas in Hawaii

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Hawaii

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Hawaii to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Hawaii

More for Hawaii

Metro areas in Hawaii

By field in Hawaii

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state