What does a Air Traffic Controllers salary really buy you in Hawaii?
Hawaii is 10.8% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Hawaii's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 110.8, meaning prices are 10.8% higher the national average. A Air Traffic Controllers earning $142,040 in Hawaii has the equivalent purchasing power of $128,194 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Hawaii's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $63,710 | $57,500 | $-6,209 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $100,480 | $90,685 | $-9,794 |
| Median (P50) | $142,040 | $128,194 | $-13,845 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $179,650 | $162,138 | $-17,511 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $200,470 | $180,929 | $-19,540 |
While $142,040 sounds high, Hawaii's elevated cost of living erases 10% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $128,194. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Air Traffic Controllers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Hawaii ranks #23 out of 44 states for Air Traffic Controllers after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Air Traffic Controllers in Hawaii earns a median salary of $142,040 per year. After adjusting for Hawaii's cost of living (RPP=110.8), the real purchasing power is $128,194 — a -9.7% difference.
Hawaii's cost of living is 10.8% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Hawaii is 110.8 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Air Traffic Controllers in Hawaii: $142,040 x (100 / 110.8) = $128,194. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Air Traffic Controllers's nominal salary of $142,040 in Hawaii has 9.7% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $128,194. However, Hawaii may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.