Is Hawaii a good state for your salary to go far?

Hawaii ranks #43 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 95.6 across 359 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 110.0 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.

What is the cost of living in Hawaii?

Hawaii's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 110.0, where the US average is 100. That is above the national average, so a dollar buys less than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Hawaii

Where Your Salary Goes Furthest in Hawaii

Hawaii ranks #43 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index (mean 95.6, base = 100). Cost of living 110.0 (US = 100); top income tax 11.00%.

Does a salary go further in Hawaii? (cost of living + state tax)

In Hawaii, the cost of living is 110.0 on the BEA index (US = 100) and the Gera US Real Pay Index averages 95.6 across 359 occupations, ranking it #43 of 51 states for how far pay goes after 2025 state income tax and 2024 BEA cost of living. Real BLS OEWS; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Hawaii ranks #43 of 51 states. Mean across 359 occupations; 100 = the average state, 95.6 means pay goes -4.4% less far after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

95.6

Real pay by occupation in Hawaii (best first)

Occupation	BLS median	Real pay	Index
Bartenders	$76,490	$65,672	195.2
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators	$111,360	$94,976	163.9
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers	$104,830	$89,488	161.0
Waiters and Waitresses	$62,390	$53,823	159.3
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators	$115,860	$98,757	155.6
Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks	$59,110	$51,066	147.5
Crane and Tower Operators	$124,260	$105,817	146.4
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	$77,560	$66,571	145.7
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers	$51,200	$44,410	143.8
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers	$52,630	$45,617	142.5
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers	$95,890	$81,975	141.6
Manicurists and Pedicurists	$60,790	$52,478	140.7
Lodging Managers	$114,070	$97,253	138.6
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary	$129,530	$110,245	137.3
Construction Laborers	$77,110	$66,193	134.6
Opticians, Dispensing	$75,300	$64,672	134.3
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop	$47,070	$40,925	134.1
Emergency Medical Technicians	$66,410	$57,201	132.2
Cooks, Fast Food	$48,120	$41,811	131.5
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term	$58,530	$50,579	130.2
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	$51,600	$44,748	128.8
Sheet Metal Workers	$96,350	$82,362	128.5
Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other	$61,110	$52,747	128.0
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians	$111,730	$95,287	127.2
Social Workers, All Other	$116,130	$98,984	124.9
Registered Nurses	$136,320	$115,936	124.6
Carpenters	$85,280	$73,059	123.9
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other	$74,260	$63,798	123.1
Glaziers	$80,800	$69,294	122.7
Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians	$77,740	$66,722	122.6
Structural Iron and Steel Workers	$99,860	$85,311	122.4
Machinists	$84,410	$72,328	121.9
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators	$103,400	$88,286	120.3
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers	$79,000	$67,781	120.2
Electricians	$96,460	$82,454	119.7
Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs	$50,310	$43,659	119.3
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives	$140,590	$119,512	118.2
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers	$134,340	$114,277	117.1
Massage Therapists	$81,280	$69,697	116.1
Painters, Construction and Maintenance	$68,220	$58,722	115.0

Showing the 40 highest real-pay occupations of 359 BLS publishes for Hawaii. Real pay = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the 2024 BEA cost of living (110.0, US = 100).

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Hawaii, a $85,000 salary is worth about $68,803 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $9,350 (≈ top marginal 11.00% (upper bound)) · take-home $75,650 · BEA cost of living 110.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $95,952, a $27,149 gain over Hawaii.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$95,952	88.6
2	Arkansas	$93,959	86.9
3	Louisiana	$93,473	88.2
4	Mississippi	$93,453	87.0
5	Iowa	$93,172	87.8
6	North Dakota	$93,161	89.0
7	Tennessee	$92,522	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$92,167	87.8
9	Wyoming	$91,703	92.7
10	Alabama	$90,911	88.8
11	Kentucky	$90,507	90.2
12	West Virginia	$90,397	89.5

Browse US jobs with salaries

Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Hawaii real pay — FAQ

Is Hawaii a good state for your salary to go far?: Hawaii ranks #43 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 95.6 across 359 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 110.0 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.
What is the cost of living in Hawaii?: Hawaii's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 110.0, where the US average is 100. That is above the national average, so a dollar buys less than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

Compare other states

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for Hawaii is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.