PA Salary

East Honolulu vs Urban Honolulu: Physician Assistant Salary (2026)

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

East Honolulu, HI
$164,185
$78.94/hr
Urban Honolulu, HI
$175,706
$84.47/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricEast Honolulu, HIUrban Honolulu, HI
Median Salary$164,185$175,706
Hourly Rate$78.94$84.47
Entry Level (P10)$119,820$88,711
25th Percentile$144,371$152,469
75th Percentile$190,805$175,706
Top Earner (P90)$230,651$184,023
Total Employed12390
Side-by-side bar chart comparing East Honolulu ($164,185) and Urban Honolulu ($175,706) physician assistant salaries.East HonoluluUrban HonoluluMedian Salary$164,185$175,706Entry Level (P10)$119,820$88,711Top Earner (P90)$230,651$184,023US Median $140,391

Verdict

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

The salary gap between East Honolulu and Urban Honolulu is $11,521 (7.02%). Urban Honolulu's median is +25.15% 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,Urban Honolulu spans $95,312. 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
Urban Honolulu
P10 (Entry)$88,711
P25$152,469
Median$175,706
P75$175,706
P90 (Top)$184,023

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Urban Honolulu ($158,349 effective) pays 15.06% more than East Honolulu ($137,624 effective).

East Honolulu
Nominal: $164,185
CoL Index: 119.3
Adjusted: $137,624
Urban Honolulu
Nominal: $175,706
CoL Index: 110.961
Adjusted: $158,349

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose East Honolulu if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($230,651)
  • You prefer the Hawaii area and lifestyle

Choose Urban Honolulu if…

  • Higher median salary ($175,706/year)
  • Larger job market (390 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $158,349)
  • 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 46.4% growth in Urban Honolulu over the same period.

East Honolulu, HI

+2.9%

$154,371 (2024) → $158,909 (2025)

Urban Honolulu, HI

+46.4%

$116,200 (2019) → $170,060 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Urban Honolulu has a higher median physician assistant salary at $175,706/year, compared to East Honolulu at $164,185/year — a difference of $11,521 (7.02%).

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

East Honolulu physician assistants earn $78.94/hr while Urban Honolulu hygienists earn $84.47/hr (2026 est.).

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

Consider more than just salary when comparing East Honolulu and Urban Honolulu. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: East Honolulu = $137,624, Urban Honolulu = $158,349), job availability (12 vs 390 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

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

Entry-level (10th percentile) physician assistants earn $119,820 in East Honolulu and $88,711 in Urban Honolulu. 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