Jobs that actually got a raise in Hawaii

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

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 · Real change since 2019

1Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$59,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,040 – $93,460+71.5%+116.0% nominal
2Marriage and Family Therapists$141,960
Master's degree
$48,950 – $166,400+67.8%+111.3% nominal
3Sailors and Marine Oilers$76,140
No formal educational credential
$46,810 – $108,010+50.6%+89.7% nominal
4Motorboat Operators$76,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,000 – $84,410+44.2%+81.6% nominal
5Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$129,530
Doctoral or professional degree
$103,160 – $129,640+42.9%+80.0% nominal
6Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$43,540
No formal educational credential
$30,970 – $80,380+42.9%+80.0% nominal
7Coaches and Scouts$55,860
Bachelor's degree
$37,040 – $116,120+34.1%+68.9% nominal
8Transportation Security Screeners$70,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,180 – $77,190+31.8%+66.0% nominal
9Surgical Technologists$82,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,370 – $94,010+27.3%+60.3% nominal
10Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$126,110
Bachelor's degree
$65,470 – $208,730+26.7%+59.6% nominal
11Concierges$60,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,690 – $71,360+24.2%+56.4% nominal
12Amusement and Recreation Attendants$39,920
No formal educational credential
$29,430 – $55,310+21.1%+52.5% nominal
13Sewing Machine Operators$39,230
No formal educational credential
$32,210 – $60,810+21.0%+52.3% nominal
14Chief Executives$281,640
Bachelor's degree
$100,030 – $493,870+21.0%+52.3% nominal
15Community Health Workers$58,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,700 – $84,750+18.1%+48.8% nominal
16Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$134,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$81,120 – $144,170+17.1%+47.5% nominal
17Counter and Rental Clerks$44,420
No formal educational credential
$34,490 – $62,410+16.3%+46.4% nominal
18Demonstrators and Product Promoters$38,490
No formal educational credential
$35,540 – $46,950+16.0%+46.1% nominal
19Tour and Travel Guides$45,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,040 – $59,870+16.0%+46.1% nominal
20Air Traffic Controllers$158,700
Associate's degree
$92,580 – $205,000+15.8%+45.9% nominal
21Physician Assistants$164,050
Master's degree
$79,280 – $178,110+15.4%+45.4% nominal
22Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$49,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,850 – $74,640+15.3%+45.2% nominal
23Instructional Coordinators$96,080
Master's degree
$60,870 – $122,810+14.7%+44.4% nominal
24Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$68,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,870 – $68,500+14.5%+44.2% nominal
25Baggage Porters and Bellhops$42,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,010 – $57,460+14.3%+44.0% nominal
26Tire Repairers and Changers$45,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,600 – $66,350+14.1%+43.7% nominal
27Childcare Workers$37,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,850 – $47,270+13.8%+43.2% nominal
28Massage Therapists$81,280
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,660 – $166,730+13.3%+42.7% nominal
29Psychiatric Technicians$55,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,830 – $63,720+13.3%+42.7% nominal
30Packers and Packagers, Hand$35,930
No formal educational credential
$29,120 – $50,030+13.0%+42.4% nominal
31Fast Food and Counter Workers$35,250
No formal educational credential
$29,120 – $45,140+12.7%+41.9% nominal
32Cashiers$36,780
No formal educational credential
$30,310 – $46,380+12.7%+42.0% nominal
33Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$71,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,620 – $88,340+12.6%+41.8% nominal
34Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service$59,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,720 – $67,270+12.4%+41.5% nominal
35Home Health and Personal Care Aides$38,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $45,720+12.3%+41.4% nominal
36Self-Enrichment Teachers$51,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,670 – $101,030+12.1%+41.1% nominal
37Information Security Analysts$126,250
Bachelor's degree
$76,390 – $172,780+11.3%+40.1% nominal
38Floral Designers$46,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,750 – $62,010+11.3%+40.1% nominal
39Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$90,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,570 – $130,560+11.2%+40.0% nominal
40Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$37,560
No formal educational credential
$31,670 – $53,510+11.2%+40.0% nominal
41Computer Programmers$118,180
Bachelor's degree
$75,450 – $151,820+10.9%+39.7% nominal
42Data Entry Keyers$47,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,750 – $53,550+10.9%+39.7% nominal
43Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$47,070
No formal educational credential
$29,710 – $62,560+10.7%+39.4% nominal
44Cargo and Freight Agents$42,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,540 – $68,380+10.6%+39.2% nominal
45Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$40,260
No formal educational credential
$35,660 – $49,380+10.5%+39.2% nominal
46Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$74,460
Bachelor's degree
$39,760 – $98,560+10.5%+39.1% nominal
47Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$115,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,390 – $129,590+10.2%+38.8% nominal
48Passenger Attendants$42,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,640 – $52,210+9.9%+38.4% nominal
49Crossing Guards and Flaggers$42,780
No formal educational credential
$35,360 – $54,690+9.8%+38.3% nominal
50Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$51,200
No formal educational credential
$29,890 – $76,960+9.7%+38.1% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,740	$36,040 – $93,460	+71.5%+116.0% nominal
2	Marriage and Family TherapistsMaster's degree	$141,960	$48,950 – $166,400	+67.8%+111.3% nominal
3	Sailors and Marine OilersNo formal educational credential	$76,140	$46,810 – $108,010	+50.6%+89.7% nominal
4	Motorboat OperatorsPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,250	$60,000 – $84,410	+44.2%+81.6% nominal
5	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$129,530	$103,160 – $129,640	+42.9%+80.0% nominal
6	Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$43,540	$30,970 – $80,380	+42.9%+80.0% nominal
7	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$55,860	$37,040 – $116,120	+34.1%+68.9% nominal
8	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,160	$57,180 – $77,190	+31.8%+66.0% nominal
9	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,640	$39,370 – $94,010	+27.3%+60.3% nominal
10	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$126,110	$65,470 – $208,730	+26.7%+59.6% nominal
11	ConciergesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,090	$42,690 – $71,360	+24.2%+56.4% nominal
12	Amusement and Recreation AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$39,920	$29,430 – $55,310	+21.1%+52.5% nominal
13	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$39,230	$32,210 – $60,810	+21.0%+52.3% nominal
14	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$281,640	$100,030 – $493,870	+21.0%+52.3% nominal
15	Community Health WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,450	$37,700 – $84,750	+18.1%+48.8% nominal
16	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$134,340	$81,120 – $144,170	+17.1%+47.5% nominal
17	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$44,420	$34,490 – $62,410	+16.3%+46.4% nominal
18	Demonstrators and Product PromotersNo formal educational credential	$38,490	$35,540 – $46,950	+16.0%+46.1% nominal
19	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,940	$31,040 – $59,870	+16.0%+46.1% nominal
20	Air Traffic ControllersAssociate's degree	$158,700	$92,580 – $205,000	+15.8%+45.9% nominal
21	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$164,050	$79,280 – $178,110	+15.4%+45.4% nominal
22	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,630	$36,850 – $74,640	+15.3%+45.2% nominal
23	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$96,080	$60,870 – $122,810	+14.7%+44.4% nominal
24	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,500	$46,870 – $68,500	+14.5%+44.2% nominal
25	Baggage Porters and BellhopsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,240	$31,010 – $57,460	+14.3%+44.0% nominal
26	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,760	$36,600 – $66,350	+14.1%+43.7% nominal
27	Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,030	$30,850 – $47,270	+13.8%+43.2% nominal
28	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,280	$36,660 – $166,730	+13.3%+42.7% nominal
29	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,150	$45,830 – $63,720	+13.3%+42.7% nominal
30	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$35,930	$29,120 – $50,030	+13.0%+42.4% nominal
31	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$35,250	$29,120 – $45,140	+12.7%+41.9% nominal
32	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$36,780	$30,310 – $46,380	+12.7%+42.0% nominal
33	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,140	$59,620 – $88,340	+12.6%+41.8% nominal
34	Switchboard Operators, Including Answering ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,860	$42,720 – $67,270	+12.4%+41.5% nominal
35	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,110	$31,200 – $45,720	+12.3%+41.4% nominal
36	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,960	$31,670 – $101,030	+12.1%+41.1% nominal
37	Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree	$126,250	$76,390 – $172,780	+11.3%+40.1% nominal
38	Floral DesignersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,170	$33,750 – $62,010	+11.3%+40.1% nominal
39	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$90,830	$62,570 – $130,560	+11.2%+40.0% nominal
40	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$37,560	$31,670 – $53,510	+11.2%+40.0% nominal
41	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$118,180	$75,450 – $151,820	+10.9%+39.7% nominal
42	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,630	$36,750 – $53,550	+10.9%+39.7% nominal
43	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$47,070	$29,710 – $62,560	+10.7%+39.4% nominal
44	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,400	$34,540 – $68,380	+10.6%+39.2% nominal
45	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$40,260	$35,660 – $49,380	+10.5%+39.2% nominal
46	Meeting, Convention, and Event PlannersBachelor's degree	$74,460	$39,760 – $98,560	+10.5%+39.1% nominal
47	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$115,860	$62,390 – $129,590	+10.2%+38.8% nominal
48	Passenger AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,360	$30,640 – $52,210	+9.9%+38.4% nominal
49	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$42,780	$35,360 – $54,690	+9.8%+38.3% nominal
50	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$51,200	$29,890 – $76,960	+9.7%+38.1% nominal

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.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Hawaii

More for Hawaii

Metro areas in Hawaii

By field in Hawaii

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state