High paying jobs in Hawaii that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Hawaii and typically require less than a bachelor's degree to enter — a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

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

1Air Traffic Controllers$158,700
Associate's degree
$92,580 – $205,000210
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$140,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$110,620 – $140,590700
3Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$134,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$81,120 – $144,170600
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$124,430
Associate's degree
$83,900 – $135,660210
5Power Plant Operators$121,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$103,430 – $134,770290
6Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$115,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,390 – $129,5902,380
7Lodging Managers$114,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,240 – $176,240200
8Detectives and Criminal Investigators$113,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$92,520 – $165,030440
9Commercial Pilots$113,030
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,470 – $214,630350
10Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$104,830
No formal educational credential
$50,230 – $119,660800
11First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$102,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,570 – $132,5502,890
12Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$101,700
Associate's degree
$39,150 – $115,440690
13Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$101,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,350 – $173,630830
14Structural Iron and Steel Workers$99,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,970 – $121,680290
15Dental Hygienists$97,570
Associate's degree
$78,800 – $104,000830
16Electricians$96,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,730 – $124,5903,070
17Sheet Metal Workers$96,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,730 – $118,960490
18Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$96,200
Associate's degree
$67,280 – $120,270460
19Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$95,890
No formal educational credential
$49,030 – $110,230650
20Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$94,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$71,240 – $130,310280
21Respiratory Therapists$94,210
Associate's degree
$80,130 – $102,780510
22Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$90,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,570 – $130,5601,150
23Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$90,040
Associate's degree
$45,200 – $120,270410
24Food Service Managers$87,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,390 – $127,7401,230
25First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$87,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,750 – $133,8303,380
26Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$85,420
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,840 – $102,460400
27Carpenters$85,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,760 – $115,9004,810
28Machinists$84,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,950 – $106,970260
29Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$83,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,480 – $108,1102,420
30Computer Network Support Specialists$83,620
Associate's degree
$51,760 – $114,910350
31Surgical Technologists$82,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,370 – $94,010290
32Massage Therapists$81,280
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,660 – $166,7301,330
33Glaziers$80,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,230 – $104,950280
34Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$80,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,100 – $117,0201,440
35Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$80,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,330 – $100,540690
36Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$79,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,630 – $119,240680
37First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other$79,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,240 – $99,940240
38Construction and Building Inspectors$79,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,590 – $99,600710
39Tile and Stone Setters$79,270
No formal educational credential
$43,980 – $114,300440
40Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$79,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,530 – $96,970760
41Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$79,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,640 – $102,110530
42Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$79,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,830 – $106,690900
43Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$79,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,000 – $100,220520
44Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$78,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,750 – $113,3002,500
45Chefs and Head Cooks$77,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,970 – $118,0001,240
46Industrial Machinery Mechanics$77,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,960 – $117,520910
47Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles$77,280
No formal educational credential
$44,920 – $120,620210
48Construction Laborers$77,110
No formal educational credential
$43,990 – $96,4904,580
49Bartenders$76,490
No formal educational credential
$30,670 – $117,5403,540
50Motorboat Operators$76,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,000 – $84,410330

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	Air Traffic ControllersAssociate's degree	$158,700	$92,580 – $205,000	210
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$140,590	$110,620 – $140,590	700
3	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$134,340	$81,120 – $144,170	600
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$124,430	$83,900 – $135,660	210
5	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$121,700	$103,430 – $134,770	290
6	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$115,860	$62,390 – $129,590	2,380
7	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$114,070	$77,240 – $176,240	200
8	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$113,940	$92,520 – $165,030	440
9	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$113,030	$58,470 – $214,630	350
10	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$104,830	$50,230 – $119,660	800
11	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,630	$64,570 – $132,550	2,890
12	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$101,700	$39,150 – $115,440	690
13	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,480	$70,350 – $173,630	830
14	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,860	$53,970 – $121,680	290
15	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$97,570	$78,800 – $104,000	830
16	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,460	$45,730 – $124,590	3,070
17	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,350	$52,730 – $118,960	490
18	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$96,200	$67,280 – $120,270	460
19	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$95,890	$49,030 – $110,230	650
20	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,900	$71,240 – $130,310	280
21	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$94,210	$80,130 – $102,780	510
22	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$90,830	$62,570 – $130,560	1,150
23	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$90,040	$45,200 – $120,270	410
24	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,800	$47,390 – $127,740	1,230
25	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,550	$55,750 – $133,830	3,380
26	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$85,420	$59,840 – $102,460	400
27	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,280	$52,760 – $115,900	4,810
28	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,410	$55,950 – $106,970	260
29	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,820	$77,480 – $108,110	2,420
30	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$83,620	$51,760 – $114,910	350
31	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,640	$39,370 – $94,010	290
32	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,280	$36,660 – $166,730	1,330
33	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,800	$51,230 – $104,950	280
34	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,710	$52,100 – $117,020	1,440
35	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,080	$54,330 – $100,540	690
36	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,880	$60,630 – $119,240	680
37	First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,750	$45,240 – $99,940	240
38	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,320	$53,590 – $99,600	710
39	Tile and Stone SettersNo formal educational credential	$79,270	$43,980 – $114,300	440
40	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,250	$51,530 – $96,970	760
41	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,170	$55,640 – $102,110	530
42	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,080	$51,830 – $106,690	900
43	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,000	$50,000 – $100,220	520
44	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,060	$47,750 – $113,300	2,500
45	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,360	$48,970 – $118,000	1,240
46	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,330	$50,960 – $117,520	910
47	Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard TilesNo formal educational credential	$77,280	$44,920 – $120,620	210
48	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$77,110	$43,990 – $96,490	4,580
49	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$76,490	$30,670 – $117,540	3,540
50	Motorboat OperatorsPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,250	$60,000 – $84,410	330

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 jobs in Hawaii that need no degree

More for Hawaii

Metro areas in Hawaii

By field in Hawaii

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree