Life Scientists, All Other Salary
Life Scientists, All Others in Hawaii make a median of $71,990 a year, or about $34.61 an hour. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.17), so that salary is closer to $65,344 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,240/month, about 47.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Hawaii. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $72K get you in Hawaii?
About life scientists, all others
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What this looks like in Hawaii
Pay for life scientists, all other in Hawaii runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $94K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,240/month, which is 49.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.17), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for life scientists, all others.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hawaii
Entry-level life scientists, all others (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track life scientists, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hawaii numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a life scientists, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hawaii?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 49.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,240/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for life scientists, all others in Hawaii?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new life scientists, all others typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,721/month. At HUD’s $2,240/month FMR, rent would take 60% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is life scientists, all other a high-paying job in Hawaii?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $72K here vs. $94K nationally.
How does Hawaii compare to the national average for life scientists, all others?
Hawaii pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — below the national median.
How much do life scientists, all others make in Hawaii?
The median is $71,990 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,020, and experienced life scientists, all others can clear $98,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Hawaii?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,502/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,240/month, which eats 49.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a life scientists, all other salary go in Hawaii?
Hawaii has a Regional Price Parity of 110.17 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median life scientists, all other salary is worth about $65,344 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do life scientists, all others get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.
