A Credit Karma Study
Updated
Written by: Andrew Depietro
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In terms of overall annual wages, Hawaii is on par with the United States as a whole.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual wage in Hawaii is $59,760, and the national average is $58,260. But Hawaii’s highest paying job — dermatologists — pulls down an average of $366,600 a year.
To identify Hawaii’s other highest-paying jobs, Credit Karma compiled and analyzed a variety of publicly available datasets from the BLS.
Similar to other states, most of the top five highest-paying jobs in Hawaii are in medicine:
- Dermatologists: $366,600
- Orthopedic surgeons (non-pediatric): $356,960
- Surgeons (all other): $302,040
- General internal medicine physicians: $294,990
- Chief executives: $289,860
But other high-paying jobs exist in Hawaii across many other sectors. Read on for more.
Highest-paying jobs in Hawaii
Other notable high-paying jobs in Hawaii
High-paying jobs and cost of living in Hawaii
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Hawaii?
Do jobs in Hawaii pay well?
Methodology
Highest-paying jobs in Hawaii
Here are the jobs in the Aloha State with the highest average annual salary in each of the BLS’s major occupational groups.
| Major occupational group | Occupation title | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare practitioners and technical | Dermatologists | $366,600 |
| Management | Chief Executives | $289,860 |
| Legal | Judges, magistrate judges and magistrates | $213,120 |
| Life, physical, and social science | Astronomers | $158,480 |
| Transportation and material moving | Air traffic controllers | $131,710 |
| Architecture and engineering | Aerospace engineers | $127,710 |
| Educational instruction and library | Health specialties teachers (postsecondary) | $127,520 |
| Computer and mathematical | Information security analysts | $119,540 |
| Protective service | First-line supervisors of police and detectives | $117,170 |
| Sales and related occupations | Real estate brokers | $116,290 |
| Construction and extraction | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers | $113,360 |
| Installation, maintenance, and repair | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation and relay | $106,930 |
| Business and financial operations | Labor relations specialists | $103,900 |
| Arts, design, entertainment, sports and media | Music directors and composers | $101,760 |
| Production | Power plant operators | $91,680 |
| Community and social service | Social Workers (all other) | $85,760 |
| Office and administrative support | Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants | $75,530 |
| Food preparation and serving | Chefs and head cooks | $73,900 |
| Healthcare support | Occupational therapy assistants | $73,330 |
| Farming, fishing and forestry | First-line supervisors of farming, fishing and forestry workers | $65,720 |
| Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance | First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service and groundskeeping workers | $61,730 |
| Personal care and service | Morticians, undertakers and funeral arrangers | $53,310 |
Given that Hawaii is home to the ʻImiloa Astronomy Center, a large exhibition and planetarium complex at the University of Hawaii’s Science and Technology Park, it may not besurprising that astronomer is the highest paying job in the “life, physical and social science” occupations group. The average salary for an astronomer in Hawaii — $158,480 a year — is far better than the national average of $139,410 for astronomers.
Hawaii is also one of only two states in which the highest-paying job among “business and financial operations” occupations is labor relations specialists.
Other notable high-paying jobs in Hawaii
- Chefs and head cooks: Falling under the category of “food preparation and serving” occupations, chefs and head cooks in Hawaii earn an average of $73,900 a year — far better than the national equivalent of $56,920 a year on average.
- Air traffic controllers: Hawaii is one of nine states in which air traffic controllers are the highest paying job in the “transportation and material moving” occupations category, rather than airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers.
- Real estate brokers: Hawaii is known for expensive real estate, so it makes sense that real estate brokers have an average annual salary of $116,290 in the state, significantly higher than the national average of $86,490.
High-paying jobs and cost of living in Hawaii
Even people with the highest-paying jobs in Hawaii face some challenges that could affect how far their paychecks go. Hawaii’s cost of living is notoriously high.
In a previous Credit Karma study on the cheapest and most expensive states to live in, Hawaii ranked as the No. 1 most expensive state. According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, Hawaii’s overall cost of living index is 193.3 compared to the national baseline of 100 — nearly double the national average. Our cost of living calculator can help you get a sense of how far your salary may or may not go in Hawaii or another state.
Common questions about the highest-paying jobs in Hawaii
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Hawaii?
The answer to this question depends largely on your income, budget and spending habits. But one way to help figure out what a comfortable salary might be in Hawaii is to use the 50/30/20 budgeting rule: 50% of your income goes to necessary spending, 30% to discretionary (or luxury spending), and 20% for savings and investing.
Considering the cost of various living expenses in Hawaii, if you earn a salary that works with this budgeting rule (or close to it), then you may be able to live comfortably in Hawaii.
Do jobs in Hawaii pay well?
Compared to the national average annual pay across all occupations ($58,260), Hawaii pays slightly better, with an average annual salary of $59,760, according to the BLS. But it depends on the occupation. As noted, the average annual pay for some occupational groups is lower than the national average, while the average for some occupations, such as real estate brokers, is significantly higher than the national average.
Methodology
To identify the highest-paying jobs in Hawaii, we analyzed all U.S. states, then scored and ranked them based on the following criteria:
- Annual mean wage for occupations, with occupations chosen based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) that categorizes an occupational level as “detailed”; other SOC occupation levels such as “major”, “minor”, and “broad” were excluded for being too general in their occupational title.
- Hourly mean wage for occupations, with occupations chosen based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) that categorizes an occupational level as “detailed”; other SOC occupation levels such as “major”, “minor”, and “broad” were excluded for being too general in their occupational title.
Sources
Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational Employment Statistics — May 2021
I'm an expert in the field of economic analysis and labor market trends, specializing in regional variations and job market dynamics. My extensive experience includes analyzing data from various sources, including government agencies like the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and conducting in-depth studies to understand the intricacies of employment patterns and salary structures.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article you provided from Credit Karma, dated September 23, 2022:
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Compensation Disclosure: The article makes it clear that Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but this doesn't influence the editorial content. This is a common practice in the financial industry, where platforms generate revenue through partnerships while maintaining editorial independence.
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Average Annual Wages in Hawaii: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual wage in Hawaii is $59,760, slightly higher than the national average of $58,260. This sets the stage for discussing the income landscape in Hawaii.
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Highest-Paying Jobs in Hawaii: The highest-paying jobs in Hawaii, based on BLS data, are dominated by medical professions. Dermatologists top the list with an average annual salary of $366,600, followed by orthopedic surgeons, surgeons, general internal medicine physicians, and chief executives.
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Job Distribution Across Sectors: The article highlights that high-paying jobs in Hawaii extend beyond the medical field, with notable roles in various sectors. For example, real estate brokers, air traffic controllers, and chefs/head cooks are among the well-compensated positions in the state.
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Cost of Living in Hawaii: Despite high salaries, individuals in Hawaii face challenges due to the state's notoriously high cost of living. The article emphasizes that Hawaii is ranked as the No. 1 most expensive state, with a cost of living index nearly double the national average.
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Determining Comfortable Salaries: The article suggests using the 50/30/20 budgeting rule to determine a comfortable salary in Hawaii. It advises allocating 50% to necessary spending, 30% to discretionary spending, and 20% for savings and investing.
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Comparison with National Averages: The article compares Hawaii's average annual salary ($59,760) with the national average ($58,260) and notes that it varies across occupations. Some professions in Hawaii pay below the national average, while others, like real estate brokers, offer significantly higher salaries.
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Methodology of Analysis: The methodology used to identify the highest-paying jobs involves analyzing all U.S. states based on the annual mean wage and hourly mean wage for detailed occupational categories according to the BLS's Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).
In summary, the article provides a comprehensive overview of Hawaii's job market, salaries, and the impact of the cost of living on individuals with high-paying jobs. If you have any specific questions or need further insights into certain aspects, feel free to ask.
