What does a Medical Assistants 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 Medical Assistants earning $46,930 in Hawaii has the equivalent purchasing power of $42,355 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) | $37,770 | $34,088 | $-3,681 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $42,590 | $38,438 | $-4,151 |
| Median (P50) | $46,930 | $42,355 | $-4,574 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $53,540 | $48,321 | $-5,218 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $58,390 | $52,698 | $-5,691 |
While $46,930 sounds high, Hawaii's elevated cost of living erases 10% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $42,355. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Medical Assistants salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Hawaii ranks #21 out of 51 states for Medical Assistants after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Medical Assistants take-home pay in Hawaii after taxes →
A Medical Assistants in Hawaii earns a median salary of $46,930 per year. After adjusting for Hawaii's cost of living (RPP=110.8), the real purchasing power is $42,355 — 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 Medical Assistants in Hawaii: $46,930 x (100 / 110.8) = $42,355. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Medical Assistants's nominal salary of $46,930 in Hawaii has 9.7% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $42,355. However, Hawaii may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.