What does a Architectural and Engineering Managers 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 Architectural and Engineering Managers earning $148,620 in Hawaii has the equivalent purchasing power of $134,133 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) | $91,990 | $83,023 | $-8,966 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $104,920 | $94,693 | $-10,226 |
| Median (P50) | $148,620 | $134,133 | $-14,486 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $167,740 | $151,389 | $-16,350 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $208,360 | $188,050 | $-20,309 |
While $148,620 sounds high, Hawaii's elevated cost of living erases 10% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $134,133. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Architectural and Engineering Managers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Hawaii ranks #50 out of 50 states for Architectural and Engineering Managers after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Architectural and Engineering Managers in Hawaii earns a median salary of $148,620 per year. After adjusting for Hawaii's cost of living (RPP=110.8), the real purchasing power is $134,133 — 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 Architectural and Engineering Managers in Hawaii: $148,620 x (100 / 110.8) = $134,133. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Architectural and Engineering Managers's nominal salary of $148,620 in Hawaii has 9.7% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $134,133. However, Hawaii may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.