Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Hawaii

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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

1Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$81,480
Doctoral or professional degree
$39,490 – $215,140-56.3%-44.9% nominal
2Education Teachers, Postsecondary$49,800
Doctoral or professional degree
$47,190 – $96,650-50.4%-37.6% nominal
3Education Administrators, Postsecondary$81,020
Master's degree
$37,340 – $133,560-45.8%-31.8% nominal
4Real Estate Sales Agents$46,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,030 – $101,750-42.5%-27.6% nominal
5Chiropractors$72,800
Doctoral or professional degree
$59,800 – $109,060-39.3%-23.5% nominal
6Labor Relations Specialists$77,310
Bachelor's degree
$62,740 – $172,590-34.5%-17.6% nominal
7Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$49,730
Doctoral or professional degree
$37,690 – $122,120-31.1%-13.2% nominal
8Producers and Directors$66,190
Bachelor's degree
$44,230 – $131,490-31.0%-13.1% nominal
9Education Administrators, All Other$75,130
Bachelor's degree
$44,850 – $127,580-27.5%-8.7% nominal
10Loan Officers$63,740
Bachelor's degree
$34,150 – $131,020-26.6%-7.5% nominal
11Driver/Sales Workers$31,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,120 – $62,720-26.4%-7.3% nominal
12Roofers$59,580
No formal educational credential
$45,860 – $79,400-26.2%-7.0% nominal
13Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$48,940 – $81,040-26.2%-7.0% nominal
14Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$92,520
Bachelor's degree
$61,970 – $143,020-25.4%-6.1% nominal
15Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$44,600
Bachelor's degree
$38,390 – $68,270-24.9%-5.4% nominal
16Interior Designers$63,780
Bachelor's degree
$45,930 – $121,480-24.5%-5.0% nominal
17Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$68,270
Master's degree
$51,280 – $97,760-23.5%-3.7% nominal
18Cost Estimators$80,360
Bachelor's degree
$46,030 – $139,380-22.9%-2.9% nominal
19Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$49,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,310 – $75,080-22.4%-2.2% nominal
20First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$63,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,310 – $106,110-22.4%-2.3% nominal
21Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$59,490
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,280-22.2%-2.1% nominal
22Natural Sciences Managers$107,810
Bachelor's degree
$64,410 – $169,680-21.7%-1.4% nominal
23Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks$45,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,890 – $71,670-21.6%-1.3% nominal
24Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$50,880
Associate's degree
$32,850 – $81,120-20.1%+0.6% nominal
25Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$61,730
Master's degree
$49,350 – $93,720-19.9%+0.9% nominal
26Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists$64,090
Bachelor's degree
$48,550 – $108,660-19.1%+1.9% nominal
27Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$58,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,670 – $101,100-18.9%+2.2% nominal
28Training and Development Specialists$60,960
Bachelor's degree
$33,470 – $134,220-18.5%+2.7% nominal
29Detectives and Criminal Investigators$113,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$92,520 – $165,030-18.5%+2.6% nominal
30Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service$38,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,090 – $50,520-18.2%+3.0% nominal
31Fundraisers$63,750
Bachelor's degree
$45,940 – $93,180-18.1%+3.2% nominal
32Nurse Practitioners$135,570
Master's degree
$106,450 – $174,350-17.1%+4.4% nominal
33Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$79,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,630 – $119,240-17.0%+4.5% nominal
34Postal Service Clerks$63,650
No formal educational credential
$54,330 – $76,360-16.8%+4.8% nominal
35Conservation Scientists$65,740
Bachelor's degree
$42,300 – $132,020-16.8%+4.8% nominal
36Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$52,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,360 – $79,090-16.4%+5.3% nominal
37Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$61,000
Bachelor's degree
$38,200 – $89,270-16.3%+5.4% nominal
38Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$34,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,120 – $60,840-16.2%+5.5% nominal
39Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$60,940
Bachelor's degree
$58,730 – $78,760-16.0%+5.8% nominal
40Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$95,890
No formal educational credential
$49,030 – $110,230-15.3%+6.7% nominal
41Legal Support Workers, All Other$62,530
Associate's degree
$52,960 – $142,080-15.2%+6.7% nominal
42Public Relations Specialists$63,880
Bachelor's degree
$42,070 – $104,240-15.1%+7.0% nominal
43Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles$77,280
No formal educational credential
$44,920 – $120,620-14.9%+7.1% nominal
44Hazardous Materials Removal Workers$58,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,420 – $77,270-14.7%+7.4% nominal
45General and Operations Managers$108,180
Bachelor's degree
$53,230 – $217,160-14.4%+7.9% nominal
46Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$83,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,480 – $108,110-14.1%+8.2% nominal
47First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$60,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,360 – $69,650-13.9%+8.4% nominal
48Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$51,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,630 – $72,360-13.6%+8.8% nominal
49Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$57,590
Bachelor's degree
$47,260 – $268,080-13.4%+9.0% nominal
50First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$63,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,020 – $98,010-13.1%+9.4% 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	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$81,480	$39,490 – $215,140	-56.3%-44.9% nominal
2	Education Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$49,800	$47,190 – $96,650	-50.4%-37.6% nominal
3	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$81,020	$37,340 – $133,560	-45.8%-31.8% nominal
4	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,220	$36,030 – $101,750	-42.5%-27.6% nominal
5	ChiropractorsDoctoral or professional degree	$72,800	$59,800 – $109,060	-39.3%-23.5% nominal
6	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$77,310	$62,740 – $172,590	-34.5%-17.6% nominal
7	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$49,730	$37,690 – $122,120	-31.1%-13.2% nominal
8	Producers and DirectorsBachelor's degree	$66,190	$44,230 – $131,490	-31.0%-13.1% nominal
9	Education Administrators, All OtherBachelor's degree	$75,130	$44,850 – $127,580	-27.5%-8.7% nominal
10	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$63,740	$34,150 – $131,020	-26.6%-7.5% nominal
11	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31,270	$29,120 – $62,720	-26.4%-7.3% nominal
12	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$59,580	$45,860 – $79,400	-26.2%-7.0% nominal
13	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$48,940 – $81,040	-26.2%-7.0% nominal
14	Social Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$92,520	$61,970 – $143,020	-25.4%-6.1% nominal
15	Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language InstructorsBachelor's degree	$44,600	$38,390 – $68,270	-24.9%-5.4% nominal
16	Interior DesignersBachelor's degree	$63,780	$45,930 – $121,480	-24.5%-5.0% nominal
17	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$68,270	$51,280 – $97,760	-23.5%-3.7% nominal
18	Cost EstimatorsBachelor's degree	$80,360	$46,030 – $139,380	-22.9%-2.9% nominal
19	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,460	$48,310 – $75,080	-22.4%-2.2% nominal
20	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,490	$44,310 – $106,110	-22.4%-2.3% nominal
21	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$42,600 – $75,280	-22.2%-2.1% nominal
22	Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree	$107,810	$64,410 – $169,680	-21.7%-1.4% nominal
23	Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,020	$35,890 – $71,670	-21.6%-1.3% nominal
24	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$50,880	$32,850 – $81,120	-20.1%+0.6% nominal
25	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$61,730	$49,350 – $93,720	-19.9%+0.9% nominal
26	Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$64,090	$48,550 – $108,660	-19.1%+1.9% nominal
27	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,500	$29,670 – $101,100	-18.9%+2.2% nominal
28	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$60,960	$33,470 – $134,220	-18.5%+2.7% nominal
29	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$113,940	$92,520 – $165,030	-18.5%+2.6% nominal
30	Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,270	$34,090 – $50,520	-18.2%+3.0% nominal
31	FundraisersBachelor's degree	$63,750	$45,940 – $93,180	-18.1%+3.2% nominal
32	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$135,570	$106,450 – $174,350	-17.1%+4.4% nominal
33	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,880	$60,630 – $119,240	-17.0%+4.5% nominal
34	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,650	$54,330 – $76,360	-16.8%+4.8% nominal
35	Conservation ScientistsBachelor's degree	$65,740	$42,300 – $132,020	-16.8%+4.8% nominal
36	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$52,160	$36,360 – $79,090	-16.4%+5.3% nominal
37	Community and Social Service Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$61,000	$38,200 – $89,270	-16.3%+5.4% nominal
38	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,500	$29,120 – $60,840	-16.2%+5.5% nominal
39	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$60,940	$58,730 – $78,760	-16.0%+5.8% nominal
40	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$95,890	$49,030 – $110,230	-15.3%+6.7% nominal
41	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$62,530	$52,960 – $142,080	-15.2%+6.7% nominal
42	Public Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$63,880	$42,070 – $104,240	-15.1%+7.0% nominal
43	Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard TilesNo formal educational credential	$77,280	$44,920 – $120,620	-14.9%+7.1% nominal
44	Hazardous Materials Removal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,440	$44,420 – $77,270	-14.7%+7.4% nominal
45	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$108,180	$53,230 – $217,160	-14.4%+7.9% nominal
46	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,820	$77,480 – $108,110	-14.1%+8.2% nominal
47	First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,050	$41,360 – $69,650	-13.9%+8.4% nominal
48	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,890	$43,630 – $72,360	-13.6%+8.8% nominal
49	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$57,590	$47,260 – $268,080	-13.4%+9.0% nominal
50	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,080	$44,020 – $98,010	-13.1%+9.4% 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 lost the most to inflation in Hawaii

More for Hawaii

Metro areas in Hawaii

By field in Hawaii

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state