PA Salary

East Honolulu vs Kahului: Physician Assistant Salary (2026)

Compare physician assistant salaries between East Honolulu, HI and Kahului, HI. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

East Honolulu, HI
$164,185
$78.94/hr
Kahului, HI
$139,441
$67.04/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricEast Honolulu, HIKahului, HI
Median Salary$164,185$139,441
Hourly Rate$78.94$67.04
Entry Level (P10)$119,820$103,093
25th Percentile$144,371$103,434
75th Percentile$190,805$149,938
Top Earner (P90)$230,651$188,249
Total Employed1250
Side-by-side bar chart comparing East Honolulu ($164,185) and Kahului ($139,441) physician assistant salaries.East HonoluluKahuluiMedian Salary$164,185$139,441Entry Level (P10)$119,820$103,093Top Earner (P90)$230,651$188,249US Median $140,391

Verdict

East Honolulu, HI offers better overall compensation for physician assistants, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Kahului.

The salary gap between East Honolulu and Kahului is $24,744 (17.75%). East Honolulu's median is +16.95% compared to the US national median of $140,391.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in East Honolulu spans $110,831,Kahului spans $85,156. East Honolulu has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

East Honolulu
P10 (Entry)$119,820
P25$144,371
Median$164,185
P75$190,805
P90 (Top)$230,651
Kahului
P10 (Entry)$103,093
P25$103,434
Median$139,441
P75$149,938
P90 (Top)$188,249

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, East Honolulu ($137,624 effective) pays 7.97% more than Kahului ($127,468 effective).

East Honolulu
Nominal: $164,185
CoL Index: 119.3
Adjusted: $137,624
Kahului
Nominal: $139,441
CoL Index: 109.393
Adjusted: $127,468

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose East Honolulu if…

  • Higher median salary ($164,185/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($230,651)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $137,624)
  • You prefer the Hawaii area and lifestyle

Choose Kahului if…

  • Larger job market (50 employed)
  • You prefer the Hawaii area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, physician assistant salaries in East Honolulu grew 2.9% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 26.0% growth in Kahului over the same period.

East Honolulu, HI

+2.9%

$154,371 (2024) → $158,909 (2025)

Kahului, HI

+26.0%

$107,140 (2019) → $134,960 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays physician assistants more: East Honolulu or Kahului?

East Honolulu has a higher median physician assistant salary at $164,185/year, compared to Kahului at $139,441/year — a difference of $24,744 (17.75%).

What is the hourly rate difference between East Honolulu and Kahului?

East Honolulu physician assistants earn $78.94/hr while Kahului hygienists earn $67.04/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from East Honolulu to Kahului as a physician assistant?

Consider more than just salary when comparing East Honolulu and Kahului. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: East Honolulu = $137,624, Kahului = $127,468), job availability (12 vs 50 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level physician assistants earn in East Honolulu vs Kahului?

Entry-level (10th percentile) physician assistants earn $119,820 in East Honolulu and $103,093 in Kahului. The East Honolulu area offers higher starting salaries.
JT

Written by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C

Career Analyst

Jessica has 10 years of experience as a physician assistant. Her specialty is cardiology in an outpatient setting.

Clinically reviewed by Michael Chen, PA-CData verified by Amina Patel, MSPAS, PA-C

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.32% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C, a licensed physician assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov