What does a Chief Executives 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 Chief Executives earning $231,500 in Hawaii has the equivalent purchasing power of $208,935 in an average-cost US state.
While $231,500 sounds high, Hawaii's elevated cost of living erases 10% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $208,935. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Chief Executives salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Hawaii ranks #9 out of 37 states for Chief Executives after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Chief Executives in Hawaii earns a median salary of $231,500 per year. After adjusting for Hawaii's cost of living (RPP=110.8), the real purchasing power is $208,935 — 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 Chief Executives in Hawaii: $231,500 x (100 / 110.8) = $208,935. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Chief Executives's nominal salary of $231,500 in Hawaii has 9.7% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $208,935. However, Hawaii may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.