What does a Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons salary really buy you in Hawaii?
Hawaii is 10.8% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-06
Hawaii's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 110.8, meaning prices are 10.8% higher the national average. A Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons earning $37,850 in Hawaii has the equivalent purchasing power of $34,160 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) | $29,330 | $26,471 | $-2,858 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $30,890 | $27,879 | $-3,010 |
| Median (P50) | $37,850 | $34,160 | $-3,689 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $54,910 | $49,557 | $-5,352 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $68,650 | $61,958 | $-6,691 |
While $37,850 sounds high, Hawaii's elevated cost of living erases 10% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $34,160. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Hawaii ranks #20 out of 28 states for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
How much do you actually take home? See Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons take-home pay in Hawaii after taxes →
A Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons in Hawaii earns a median salary of $37,850 per year. After adjusting for Hawaii's cost of living (RPP=110.8), the real purchasing power is $34,160 — 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 Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons in Hawaii: $37,850 x (100 / 110.8) = $34,160. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons's nominal salary of $37,850 in Hawaii has 9.7% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $34,160. However, Hawaii may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.