Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Kahului-Wailuku, HI

Each occupation's median wage in Kahului-Wailuku, HI 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 Kahului-Wailuku, HI pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Kahului-Wailuku, HI run 9.4% above the national average (2024), so a Kahului-Wailuku, HI 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.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Kahului-Wailuku, HI

OccupationMedian, Kahului-Wailuku, HI · vs. national

1Bartenders$86,280
No formal educational credential
$38,180 – $131,230+151.3%
2Waiters and Waitresses$82,550
No formal educational credential
$32,430 – $135,660+134.3%
3Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$124,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,880 – $132,440+108.8%
4Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$64,030
No formal educational credential
$47,450 – $81,180+90.7%
5Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$104,450
No formal educational credential
$53,340 – $122,740+83.2%
6Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$61,230
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $89,800+80.2%
7Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$62,960
No formal educational credential
$37,920 – $78,000+78.1%
8Motorboat Operators$83,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,630 – $94,340+75.5%
9Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$60,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,190 – $71,740+72.1%
10Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$60,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,090 – $94,740+69.6%
11Construction Laborers$79,760
No formal educational credential
$49,660 – $101,680+69.3%
12Massage Therapists$96,820
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,140 – $169,180+65.6%
13Concierges$63,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,550 – $79,810+62.8%
14Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$80,300
Bachelor's degree
$43,030 – $118,650+57.8%
15Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service$60,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,800 – $73,170+56.4%
16Electricians$98,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,950 – $134,180+55.8%
17Lodging Managers$106,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,370 – $198,780+54.4%
18Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants$55,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,460 – $136,100+53.8%
19Amusement and Recreation Attendants$49,020
No formal educational credential
$33,260 – $59,750+52.5%
20Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$62,280
Bachelor's degree
$49,400 – $65,810+49.5%
21Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$53,030
No formal educational credential
$41,850 – $63,100+49.3%
22Painters, Construction and Maintenance$73,650
No formal educational credential
$50,950 – $99,600+49.1%
23Registered Nurses$144,350
Bachelor's degree
$89,710 – $145,730+48.0%
24Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$55,400
No formal educational credential
$38,580 – $74,490+47.9%
25Solar Photovoltaic Installers$78,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,000 – $101,740+47.5%
26Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$54,340
No formal educational credential
$37,500 – $72,350+45.7%
27Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$55,340
Associate's degree
$37,860 – $74,960+45.1%
28Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$45,240
No formal educational credential
$33,280 – $69,980+45.0%
29Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$66,350
No formal educational credential
$45,810 – $89,140+42.9%
30Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$83,190
No formal educational credential
$53,650 – $142,940+41.2%
31Floral Designers$52,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,180 – $69,480+40.7%
32Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$89,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,530 – $90,480+39.5%
33Psychiatric Technicians$62,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,290 – $66,000+38.7%
34Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$84,640
Bachelor's degree
$46,090 – $127,090+38.4%
35Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$49,400
No formal educational credential
$34,480 – $87,430+37.8%
36Butchers and Meat Cutters$54,980
No formal educational credential
$38,450 – $70,860+37.0%
37Chefs and Head Cooks$84,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,400 – $129,410+36.0%
38Carpenters$82,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,530 – $120,640+35.5%
39Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$81,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,270 – $105,670+35.4%
40Food Service Managers$93,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,540 – $130,120+34.8%
41Cooks, Short Order$48,140
No formal educational credential
$46,390 – $67,790+34.2%
42First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$106,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,240 – $145,360+33.3%
43Cooks, Restaurant$49,560
No formal educational credential
$38,470 – $74,350+32.5%
44Food Preparation Workers$46,680
No formal educational credential
$34,510 – $70,710+32.2%
45Instructional Coordinators$102,330
Master's degree
$58,400 – $129,680+32.1%
46Dishwashers$45,930
No formal educational credential
$34,150 – $62,590+31.9%
47Animal Caretakers$46,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,820 – $64,900+30.9%
48Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$125,670
Associate's degree
$101,190 – $131,350+30.1%
49Tour and Travel Guides$49,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,760 – $71,600+29.7%
50Coaches and Scouts$61,090
Bachelor's degree
$38,230 – $116,330+29.1%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianKahului-Wailuku, HI	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$86,280	$38,180 – $131,230	+151.3%
2	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$82,550	$32,430 – $135,660	+134.3%
3	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$124,990	$67,880 – $132,440	+108.8%
4	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$64,030	$47,450 – $81,180	+90.7%
5	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$104,450	$53,340 – $122,740	+83.2%
6	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$61,230	$31,200 – $89,800	+80.2%
7	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$62,960	$37,920 – $78,000	+78.1%
8	Motorboat OperatorsPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,390	$64,630 – $94,340	+75.5%
9	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,360	$44,190 – $71,740	+72.1%
10	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,710	$30,090 – $94,740	+69.6%
11	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$79,760	$49,660 – $101,680	+69.3%
12	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$96,820	$31,140 – $169,180	+65.6%
13	ConciergesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,430	$46,550 – $79,810	+62.8%
14	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$80,300	$43,030 – $118,650	+57.8%
15	Switchboard Operators, Including Answering ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,420	$45,800 – $73,170	+56.4%
16	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,480	$45,950 – $134,180	+55.8%
17	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,940	$78,370 – $198,780	+54.4%
18	Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,830	$48,460 – $136,100	+53.8%
19	Amusement and Recreation AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$49,020	$33,260 – $59,750	+52.5%
20	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$62,280	$49,400 – $65,810	+49.5%
21	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$53,030	$41,850 – $63,100	+49.3%
22	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$73,650	$50,950 – $99,600	+49.1%
23	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$144,350	$89,710 – $145,730	+48.0%
24	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$55,400	$38,580 – $74,490	+47.9%
25	Solar Photovoltaic InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,360	$52,000 – $101,740	+47.5%
26	Shuttle Drivers and ChauffeursNo formal educational credential	$54,340	$37,500 – $72,350	+45.7%
27	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$55,340	$37,860 – $74,960	+45.1%
28	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$45,240	$33,280 – $69,980	+45.0%
29	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$66,350	$45,810 – $89,140	+42.9%
30	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$83,190	$53,650 – $142,940	+41.2%
31	Floral DesignersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,570	$38,180 – $69,480	+40.7%
32	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$89,140	$61,530 – $90,480	+39.5%
33	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,590	$46,290 – $66,000	+38.7%
34	Meeting, Convention, and Event PlannersBachelor's degree	$84,640	$46,090 – $127,090	+38.4%
35	Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$49,400	$34,480 – $87,430	+37.8%
36	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$54,980	$38,450 – $70,860	+37.0%
37	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,990	$55,400 – $129,410	+36.0%
38	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,110	$49,530 – $120,640	+35.5%
39	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,340	$59,270 – $105,670	+35.4%
40	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,550	$58,540 – $130,120	+34.8%
41	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$48,140	$46,390 – $67,790	+34.2%
42	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,520	$70,240 – $145,360	+33.3%
43	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$49,560	$38,470 – $74,350	+32.5%
44	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$46,680	$34,510 – $70,710	+32.2%
45	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$102,330	$58,400 – $129,680	+32.1%
46	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$45,930	$34,150 – $62,590	+31.9%
47	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,270	$31,820 – $64,900	+30.9%
48	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$125,670	$101,190 – $131,350	+30.1%
49	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,430	$39,760 – $71,600	+29.7%
50	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$61,090	$38,230 – $116,330	+29.1%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Kahului-Wailuku, HI

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