Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Hawaii

Each occupation's median wage in Hawaii compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Hawaii pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 · vs. national

1Bartenders$76,490
No formal educational credential
$30,670 – $117,540+122.7%
2Marriage and Family Therapists$141,960
Master's degree
$48,950 – $166,400+112.1%
3Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$115,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,390 – $129,590+93.6%
4Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$104,830
No formal educational credential
$50,230 – $119,660+77.9%
5Waiters and Waitresses$62,390
No formal educational credential
$29,120 – $119,870+77.1%
6Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$59,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,430 – $69,310+68.5%
7Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$95,890
No formal educational credential
$49,030 – $110,230+68.2%
8Lodging Managers$114,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,240 – $176,240+64.7%
9Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$61,110
No formal educational credential
$32,540 – $76,940+64.4%
10Construction Laborers$77,110
No formal educational credential
$43,990 – $96,490+63.6%
11Social Workers, All Other$116,130
Bachelor's degree
$81,080 – $137,450+61.5%
12Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$129,530
Doctoral or professional degree
$103,160 – $129,640+61.4%
13Motorboat Operators$76,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,000 – $84,410+60.5%
14Structural Iron and Steel Workers$99,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,970 – $121,680+59.1%
15Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$52,630
No formal educational credential
$33,720 – $79,840+56.7%
16Sheet Metal Workers$96,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,730 – $118,960+55.9%
17Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service$59,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,720 – $67,270+55.0%
18Concierges$60,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,690 – $71,360+54.3%
19Electricians$96,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,730 – $124,590+52.7%
20Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$47,070
No formal educational credential
$29,710 – $62,560+50.9%
21Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$74,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,260 – $101,190+50.8%
22Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$51,200
No formal educational credential
$29,890 – $76,960+50.7%
23Emergency Medical Technicians$66,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,140 – $84,620+49.3%
24Sailors and Marine Oilers$76,140
No formal educational credential
$46,810 – $108,010+47.8%
25Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$79,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,000 – $100,220+47.0%
26Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$51,600
No formal educational credential
$38,600 – $62,020+45.3%
27Machinists$84,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,950 – $106,970+43.7%
28Tile and Stone Setters$79,270
No formal educational credential
$43,980 – $114,300+42.3%
29Glaziers$80,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,230 – $104,950+41.6%
30Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$134,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$81,120 – $144,170+40.9%
31Carpenters$85,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,760 – $115,900+40.8%
32Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$58,530
Bachelor's degree
$45,690 – $60,620+40.5%
33Registered Nurses$136,320
Bachelor's degree
$82,500 – $147,830+39.7%
34Massage Therapists$81,280
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,660 – $166,730+39.1%
35Painters, Construction and Maintenance$68,220
No formal educational credential
$47,090 – $90,830+38.1%
36Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles$77,280
No formal educational credential
$44,920 – $120,620+36.9%
37Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$50,310
No formal educational credential
$35,050 – $63,270+34.9%
38Aircraft Service Attendants$53,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,440 – $65,530+32.9%
39First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$140,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$110,620 – $140,590+32.6%
40Solar Photovoltaic Installers$70,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,480 – $105,200+32.4%
41Chief Executives$281,640
Bachelor's degree
$100,030 – $493,870+31.6%
42Transportation Workers, All Other$59,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,840 – $78,300+30.3%
43Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$80,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,330 – $100,540+29.6%
44Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$124,430
Associate's degree
$83,900 – $135,660+28.8%
45First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$102,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,570 – $132,550+28.4%
46Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$48,780
Associate's degree
$37,160 – $64,110+27.9%
47Surgical Technologists$82,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,370 – $94,010+27.8%
48Physicians, All Other$339,290
Doctoral or professional degree
$124,470 – $481,940+27.6%
49Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$47,770
No formal educational credential
$38,250 – $65,020+27.6%
50Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$101,700
Associate's degree
$39,150 – $115,440+27.0%

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	vs. national
1	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$76,490	$30,670 – $117,540	+122.7%
2	Marriage and Family TherapistsMaster's degree	$141,960	$48,950 – $166,400	+112.1%
3	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$115,860	$62,390 – $129,590	+93.6%
4	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$104,830	$50,230 – $119,660	+77.9%
5	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$62,390	$29,120 – $119,870	+77.1%
6	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,110	$42,430 – $69,310	+68.5%
7	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$95,890	$49,030 – $110,230	+68.2%
8	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$114,070	$77,240 – $176,240	+64.7%
9	Motor Vehicle Operators, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$61,110	$32,540 – $76,940	+64.4%
10	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$77,110	$43,990 – $96,490	+63.6%
11	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$116,130	$81,080 – $137,450	+61.5%
12	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$129,530	$103,160 – $129,640	+61.4%
13	Motorboat OperatorsPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,250	$60,000 – $84,410	+60.5%
14	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,860	$53,970 – $121,680	+59.1%
15	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$52,630	$33,720 – $79,840	+56.7%
16	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,350	$52,730 – $118,960	+55.9%
17	Switchboard Operators, Including Answering ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,860	$42,720 – $67,270	+55.0%
18	ConciergesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,090	$42,690 – $71,360	+54.3%
19	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,460	$45,730 – $124,590	+52.7%
20	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$47,070	$29,710 – $62,560	+50.9%
21	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,260	$52,260 – $101,190	+50.8%
22	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$51,200	$29,890 – $76,960	+50.7%
23	Emergency Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,410	$51,140 – $84,620	+49.3%
24	Sailors and Marine OilersNo formal educational credential	$76,140	$46,810 – $108,010	+47.8%
25	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,000	$50,000 – $100,220	+47.0%
26	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$51,600	$38,600 – $62,020	+45.3%
27	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,410	$55,950 – $106,970	+43.7%
28	Tile and Stone SettersNo formal educational credential	$79,270	$43,980 – $114,300	+42.3%
29	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,800	$51,230 – $104,950	+41.6%
30	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$134,340	$81,120 – $144,170	+40.9%
31	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,280	$52,760 – $115,900	+40.8%
32	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$58,530	$45,690 – $60,620	+40.5%
33	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$136,320	$82,500 – $147,830	+39.7%
34	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,280	$36,660 – $166,730	+39.1%
35	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$68,220	$47,090 – $90,830	+38.1%
36	Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard TilesNo formal educational credential	$77,280	$44,920 – $120,620	+36.9%
37	Shuttle Drivers and ChauffeursNo formal educational credential	$50,310	$35,050 – $63,270	+34.9%
38	Aircraft Service AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,770	$49,440 – $65,530	+32.9%
39	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$140,590	$110,620 – $140,590	+32.6%
40	Solar Photovoltaic InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,370	$47,480 – $105,200	+32.4%
41	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$281,640	$100,030 – $493,870	+31.6%
42	Transportation Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,500	$40,840 – $78,300	+30.3%
43	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,080	$54,330 – $100,540	+29.6%
44	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$124,430	$83,900 – $135,660	+28.8%
45	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,630	$64,570 – $132,550	+28.4%
46	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$48,780	$37,160 – $64,110	+27.9%
47	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,640	$39,370 – $94,010	+27.8%
48	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$339,290	$124,470 – $481,940	+27.6%
49	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$47,770	$38,250 – $65,020	+27.6%
50	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$101,700	$39,150 – $115,440	+27.0%

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 pay the biggest premium in Hawaii

More for Hawaii

Metro areas in Hawaii

By field in Hawaii

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state