SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Hawaii
Hawaii · 2 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Hawaii comes to $45,420 a year, ahead of the national median of $37,390 by 21.5%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Hawaii comes to $45,420 a year, ahead of the national median of $37,390 by 21.5%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $37,260 and $55,550. The lowest tenth earn under $35,740, while the highest tenth earn more than $65,320.
Employment stands at 11,090, or 17.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Hawaii ranks 4th by median wage. Kahului leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $49,560. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 452nd of 537 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,740 | −4.4% |
| 25th | $37,260 | −0.3% |
| Median (50th) | $45,420 | +21.5% |
| 75th | $55,550 | +48.6% |
| 90th | $65,320 | +74.7% |
| Mean | $47,080 | +25.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Hawaii
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului | $49,560 | 1,770 | |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu | $42,450 | 6,960 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Hawaii run 10.0% above the national average, so the median of $45,420 buys what $41,291 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 10.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$45,420as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$41,291US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $45,420 a year, 21.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,740 to $65,320 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 11,090 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 4th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Kahului, at $49,560.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Hawaii?
The median annual wage is $45,420, or $21.84 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $37,390, so pay in Hawaii is 21.5% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Hawaii earns more than $65,320 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,740 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Kahului, at $49,560 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 11,090 jobs in this occupation in Hawaii. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data