What does a Plumber 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 Plumber earning $78,540 in Hawaii has the equivalent purchasing power of $70,884 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) | $46,900 | $42,328 | $-4,571 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $62,390 | $56,308 | $-6,081 |
| Median (P50) | $78,540 | $70,884 | $-7,655 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $97,820 | $88,285 | $-9,534 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $115,160 | $103,935 | $-11,224 |
While $78,540 sounds high, Hawaii's elevated cost of living erases 10% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $70,884. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Plumber salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Hawaii ranks #13 out of 50 states for Plumber after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Plumber in Hawaii earns a median salary of $78,540 per year. After adjusting for Hawaii's cost of living (RPP=110.8), the real purchasing power is $70,884 — 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 Plumber in Hawaii: $78,540 x (100 / 110.8) = $70,884. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Plumber's nominal salary of $78,540 in Hawaii has 9.7% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $70,884. However, Hawaii may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.