What does a Opticians, Dispensing 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 Opticians, Dispensing earning $56,090 in Hawaii has the equivalent purchasing power of $50,622 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) | $36,820 | $33,231 | $-3,588 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $37,410 | $33,763 | $-3,646 |
| Median (P50) | $56,090 | $50,622 | $-5,467 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $74,220 | $66,985 | $-7,234 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $77,500 | $69,945 | $-7,554 |
While $56,090 sounds high, Hawaii's elevated cost of living erases 10% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $50,622. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Opticians, Dispensing salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Hawaii ranks #14 out of 50 states for Opticians, Dispensing after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Opticians, Dispensing in Hawaii earns a median salary of $56,090 per year. After adjusting for Hawaii's cost of living (RPP=110.8), the real purchasing power is $50,622 — 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 Opticians, Dispensing in Hawaii: $56,090 x (100 / 110.8) = $50,622. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Opticians, Dispensing's nominal salary of $56,090 in Hawaii has 9.7% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $50,622. However, Hawaii may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.