Physicists pay range in Honolulu
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,190 a year or less, while the top 10% make $383,510 or more. The middle half of physicists in Honolulu earn between $98,680 and $243,740.
- $77K10th
- $99K25th
- $117KMedian
- $244K75th
- $384K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $180,330 | $15,028 | $86.70 |
| Median | $117,190 | $9,766 | $56.34 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $98,680 | $8,223 | $47.44 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $243,740 | $20,312 | $117.18 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Physicists salary after taxes in Honolulu
On the average salary of $180,330, a single filer in Honolulu takes home about $122,482 a year, or $10,207 a month and $4,711 every two weeks. Taxes take 32% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Hawaii's top brackets above $125,000 follow Act 46 (2024).
Is Honolulu a good place for physicists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Honolulu area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.0), so the average $180,330 buys what about $162,517 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Honolulu ($57,220). A typical home costs $851,163, or 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Physicists salary in nearby metro areas
- San Jose, CA$189,390
- Sacramento, CA$130,050
- Oxnard, CA$169,620
- Bakersfield, CA$137,290
- Los Angeles, CA$165,380
- Portland, OR$210,060
Highest-paying cities for physicists
Miami, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($245,010).
- Miami, FL$245,010
- Tampa, FL$244,380
- Pittsburgh, PA$211,220
- Portland, OR$210,060
- Cleveland, OH$209,480
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Physicists salary in Honolulu: questions
How much do physicists make an hour in Honolulu?
$86.70 an hour on average, and $56.34 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physicists salary in Honolulu?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,190 a year and the 25th percentile is $98,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physicists take-home pay in Honolulu?
About $122,482 a year ($10,207 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $180,330. Hawaii's top brackets above $125,000 follow Act 46 (2024).
Do physicists earn more in Honolulu than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($158,709).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-2012; area Urban Honolulu, HI (46520). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 21.6%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Hawaii's top brackets above $125,000 follow Act 46 (2024).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.60, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.60).
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