Physician Assistants Salary
The median pay for a physician assistants in Hawaii is $164,050/year ($78.87/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $79K at the entry level to $178K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.17), so that salary is closer to $148,906 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,240/month, or 23.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Hawaii. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $164K get you in Hawaii?
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What this looks like in Hawaii
Hawaii sits well above the national pay line for physician assistants, local pay runs about 21% higher than the U.S. median of $136K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,240/month, 24.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.17), so groceries and services cost more too. Combined with manageable housing costs, Hawaii offers a genuinely strong financial position for physician assistantss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hawaii
Entry-level physician assistants (10th percentile) start around $79K. Mid-career wages sit at $164K. Top earners bring in $178K or more, a $99K spread from bottom to top.
Physician Assistants salary by metro in Hawaii
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu | $170K | +4% | 390 |
| Kahului-Wailuku | $135K | -18% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track physician assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hawaii numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physician assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hawaii?
Yes — at the median salary of $164K, rent takes 24.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,240/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physician assistants in Hawaii?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physician assistants typically earn — is $79K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,757/month. At HUD’s $2,240/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is physician assistant a high-paying job in Hawaii?
Local pay is 21% above the national median — $164K here vs. $136K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 10% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Hawaii compare to the national average for physician assistants?
Hawaii pays $164K median vs. the U.S. average of $136K — that’s +21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $149K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physician assistants make in Hawaii?
The median is $164,050 a year, that works out to about $79 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $79,280, and experienced physician assistants can clear $178,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $164K enough to live in Hawaii?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,162/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,240/month, which eats 24.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physician assistants 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 physician assistants salary is worth about $148,906 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physician assistants 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.