High paying jobs in Hawaii that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Hawaii, requires no bachelor's degree, and requires no prior experience in a related job. That second filter is what separates this from the no-degree list, which is topped by supervisor roles asking five years in the trade before they will look at you. Several of these do involve months of training — but the employer provides it, and pays you during it, which is a feature rather than a barrier. 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
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$134,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$81,120 – $144,170600
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$124,430
Associate's degree
$83,900 – $135,660210
4Power Plant Operators$121,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$103,430 – $134,770290
5Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$115,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,390 – $129,5902,380
6Commercial Pilots$113,030
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,470 – $214,630350
7Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$104,830
No formal educational credential
$50,230 – $119,660800
8Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$101,700
Associate's degree
$39,150 – $115,440690
9Structural Iron and Steel Workers$99,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,970 – $121,680290
10Dental Hygienists$97,570
Associate's degree
$78,800 – $104,000830
11Electricians$96,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,730 – $124,5903,070
12Sheet Metal Workers$96,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,730 – $118,960490
13Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$96,200
Associate's degree
$67,280 – $120,270460
14Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$95,890
No formal educational credential
$49,030 – $110,230650
15Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$94,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$71,240 – $130,310280
16Respiratory Therapists$94,210
Associate's degree
$80,130 – $102,780510
17Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$90,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,570 – $130,5601,150
18Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$90,040
Associate's degree
$45,200 – $120,270410
19Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$85,420
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,840 – $102,460400
20Carpenters$85,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,760 – $115,9004,810
21Machinists$84,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,950 – $106,970260
22Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$83,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,480 – $108,1102,420
23Computer Network Support Specialists$83,620
Associate's degree
$51,760 – $114,910350
24Surgical Technologists$82,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,370 – $94,010290
25Massage Therapists$81,280
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,660 – $166,7301,330
26Glaziers$80,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,230 – $104,950280
27Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$80,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,330 – $100,540690
28Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$79,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,630 – $119,240680
29Tile and Stone Setters$79,270
No formal educational credential
$43,980 – $114,300440
30Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$79,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,530 – $96,970760
31Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$79,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,640 – $102,110530
32Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$79,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,830 – $106,690900
33Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$79,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,000 – $100,220520
34Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$78,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,750 – $113,3002,500
35Industrial Machinery Mechanics$77,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,960 – $117,520910
36Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles$77,280
No formal educational credential
$44,920 – $120,620210
37Construction Laborers$77,110
No formal educational credential
$43,990 – $96,4904,580
38Bartenders$76,490
No formal educational credential
$30,670 – $117,5403,540
39Sailors and Marine Oilers$76,140
No formal educational credential
$46,810 – $108,010340
40Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$74,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,260 – $101,190970
41Medical Equipment Repairers$72,360
Associate's degree
$54,030 – $92,810290
42Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$71,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,620 – $88,340840
43Solar Photovoltaic Installers$70,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,480 – $105,200420
44Transportation Security Screeners$70,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,180 – $77,1901,010
45Correctional Officers and Jailers$69,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,250 – $82,2401,310
46Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$68,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,870 – $68,5002,190
47Painters, Construction and Maintenance$68,220
No formal educational credential
$47,090 – $90,8301,900
48Physical Therapist Assistants$67,510
Associate's degree
$49,920 – $74,770250
49Emergency Medical Technicians$66,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,140 – $84,620560
50Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$65,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,900 – $82,680610

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	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$134,340	$81,120 – $144,170	600
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$124,430	$83,900 – $135,660	210
4	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$121,700	$103,430 – $134,770	290
5	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$115,860	$62,390 – $129,590	2,380
6	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$113,030	$58,470 – $214,630	350
7	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$104,830	$50,230 – $119,660	800
8	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$101,700	$39,150 – $115,440	690
9	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,860	$53,970 – $121,680	290
10	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$97,570	$78,800 – $104,000	830
11	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,460	$45,730 – $124,590	3,070
12	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,350	$52,730 – $118,960	490
13	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$96,200	$67,280 – $120,270	460
14	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$95,890	$49,030 – $110,230	650
15	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,900	$71,240 – $130,310	280
16	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$94,210	$80,130 – $102,780	510
17	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$90,830	$62,570 – $130,560	1,150
18	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$90,040	$45,200 – $120,270	410
19	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$85,420	$59,840 – $102,460	400
20	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,280	$52,760 – $115,900	4,810
21	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,410	$55,950 – $106,970	260
22	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,820	$77,480 – $108,110	2,420
23	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$83,620	$51,760 – $114,910	350
24	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,640	$39,370 – $94,010	290
25	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,280	$36,660 – $166,730	1,330
26	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,800	$51,230 – $104,950	280
27	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,080	$54,330 – $100,540	690
28	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,880	$60,630 – $119,240	680
29	Tile and Stone SettersNo formal educational credential	$79,270	$43,980 – $114,300	440
30	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,250	$51,530 – $96,970	760
31	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,170	$55,640 – $102,110	530
32	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,080	$51,830 – $106,690	900
33	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,000	$50,000 – $100,220	520
34	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,060	$47,750 – $113,300	2,500
35	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,330	$50,960 – $117,520	910
36	Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard TilesNo formal educational credential	$77,280	$44,920 – $120,620	210
37	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$77,110	$43,990 – $96,490	4,580
38	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$76,490	$30,670 – $117,540	3,540
39	Sailors and Marine OilersNo formal educational credential	$76,140	$46,810 – $108,010	340
40	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,260	$52,260 – $101,190	970
41	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$72,360	$54,030 – $92,810	290
42	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,140	$59,620 – $88,340	840
43	Solar Photovoltaic InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,370	$47,480 – $105,200	420
44	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,160	$57,180 – $77,190	1,010
45	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,570	$64,250 – $82,240	1,310
46	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,500	$46,870 – $68,500	2,190
47	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$68,220	$47,090 – $90,830	1,900
48	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$67,510	$49,920 – $74,770	250
49	Emergency Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,410	$51,140 – $84,620	560
50	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,560	$46,900 – $82,680	610

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 experience

More for Hawaii

Metro areas in Hawaii

By field in Hawaii

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience