What does a Civil Engineers salary really buy you in Hawaii?
Hawaii is 10.8% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-02
Hawaii's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 110.8, meaning prices are 10.8% higher the national average. A Civil Engineers earning $84,500 in Hawaii has the equivalent purchasing power of $76,263 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) | $63,110 | $56,958 | $-6,151 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $71,780 | $64,783 | $-6,996 |
| Median (P50) | $84,500 | $76,263 | $-8,236 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $108,110 | $97,572 | $-10,537 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $124,320 | $112,202 | $-12,117 |
While $84,500 sounds high, Hawaii's elevated cost of living erases 10% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $76,263. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Civil Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Hawaii ranks #51 out of 51 states for Civil Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
How much do you actually take home? See Civil Engineers take-home pay in Hawaii after taxes →
A Civil Engineers in Hawaii earns a median salary of $84,500 per year. After adjusting for Hawaii's cost of living (RPP=110.8), the real purchasing power is $76,263 — 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 Civil Engineers in Hawaii: $84,500 x (100 / 110.8) = $76,263. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Civil Engineers's nominal salary of $84,500 in Hawaii has 9.7% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $76,263. However, Hawaii may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.