What does a Soil and Plant Scientists 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 Soil and Plant Scientists earning $71,380 in Hawaii has the equivalent purchasing power of $64,422 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) | $61,380 | $55,397 | $-5,982 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $65,920 | $59,494 | $-6,425 |
| Median (P50) | $71,380 | $64,422 | $-6,957 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $93,430 | $84,323 | $-9,106 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $111,990 | $101,074 | $-10,915 |
While $71,380 sounds high, Hawaii's elevated cost of living erases 10% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $64,422. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Soil and Plant Scientists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Hawaii ranks #38 out of 49 states for Soil and Plant Scientists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Soil and Plant Scientists take-home pay in Hawaii after taxes →
A Soil and Plant Scientists in Hawaii earns a median salary of $71,380 per year. After adjusting for Hawaii's cost of living (RPP=110.8), the real purchasing power is $64,422 — 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 Soil and Plant Scientists in Hawaii: $71,380 x (100 / 110.8) = $64,422. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Soil and Plant Scientists's nominal salary of $71,380 in Hawaii has 9.7% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $64,422. However, Hawaii may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.