What the numbers say
Electrical Engineers in Hawaii earned a median annual wage of $105,060 in 2024, about 8% below the national median of $114,360. That gap is modest by state-comparison standards, though it matters once you factor in what the money actually buys.
Hawaii's cost-of-living index sits at 113.2, meaning prices run roughly 13% above the national baseline. Adjusting for that, the effective purchasing power of the state median lands closer to $92,800 in national-baseline dollars. A Hawaii-based Electrical Engineer earns less on paper than the typical US peer and less in real terms too.
The spread between low and high earners is narrower than in many states. The 10th percentile was $74,000 in 2024 and the 90th was $140,150. Top earners made about 1.9 times what those at the bottom of the range did. That ratio is tighter than the national spread for this occupation, which suggests less variation by seniority or sub-specialty, or simply a smaller sample pulling the numbers toward the middle. Total employment was 980, making Hawaii one of the smaller markets for this role in the country.
BLS projects employment for Electrical Engineers to grow 7.1% between 2024 and 2034, a pace it categorizes as faster than average. Hawaii's demand is shaped by a concentrated mix of defense and federal infrastructure work, along with grid modernization tied to the state's renewable energy mandates. Neither of those factors shows up in the wage numbers directly, but they explain why the occupation exists here in volume despite the state's small overall economy.
Salary distribution
Where Hawaii electrical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $79,990 and $126,700, with a median of $105,060.
Electrical Engineers in Hawaii: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 11 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $110,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 2 | $96,346 |
| Level II — qualified | 1 | $98,082 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 4 | $172,413 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Electrical Engineers in Hawaii. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hitachi Rail Honolulu JV | Control Room Operator | 5 | $92,893 |
| Hitachi Rail STS USA, Inc. | Senior Telecoms Engineer | 2 | $187,803 |
| PBAM Hawaii, LLC | Electrical Engineer | 1 | $110,000 |
| Moss & Associates, LLC | Project Manager | 1 | $130,000 |
| HDR Engineering, Inc. | Electrical Coordinator | 1 | $102,523 |
| Stantec Consulting Services Inc. | Senior Electrical Designer | 1 | $168,314 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Electrical Engineer at PBAM Hawaii, LLC$110,000HonoluluDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-503581
- Senior Telecoms Engineer at Hitachi Rail STS USA, Inc.$187,803Pearl CityDecided Nov 7, 2025I-200-25273-345472
- Control Room Operator at Hitachi Rail Honolulu JV$92,893Pearl CityDecided Sep 30, 2025I-200-25266-327732
- Project Manager at Moss & Associates, LLC$130,000HonoluluWage Level IVDecided Sep 2, 2025I-200-25237-263964
- Electrical Coordinator at HDR Engineering, Inc.$102,523HonoluluWage Level IDecided Jun 24, 2025I-200-25167-098830
- Senior Electrical Designer at Stantec Consulting Services Inc.$168,314HonoluluWage Level IVDecided May 23, 2025I-200-25136-987835
- Associate Wayside & On Board Service Engineer at Hitachi Rail Honolulu JV$98,082Pearl CityWage Level IIDecided Feb 28, 2025I-200-25052-715743
- Senior Telecoms Engineer at Hitachi Rail Honolulu JV$176,512Pearl CityWage Level IVDecided Jan 8, 2025I-200-24366-578553
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Electrical Engineers pay by experience level in Hawaii
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Electrical Engineers specialties in Hawaii
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 6 certified offers. The most common variant is Senior Telecoms Engineer at a median of $187,803.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Telecoms Engineer | Hitachi Rail STS USA, Inc. | 3 | $187,803 |
| Control Room Operator | Hitachi Rail Honolulu JV | 3 | $92,882 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Electrical Engineers in Hawaii, by industry
Median offered wage across 10 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Transportation and logistics leads with a median of $134,702.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation and logistics | Hitachi Rail Honolulu JV | 6 | $134,702 |
| Professional services | PBAM Hawaii, LLC | 3 | $110,000 |
| Manufacturing | Hitachi Rail Honolulu JV | 1 | $98,082 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Hawaii over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Writing
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Written Expression
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Design, implement, maintain, or improve electrical instruments, equipment, facilities, components, products, or systems for commercial, industrial, or domestic purposes.
- 02
Oversee project production efforts to assure projects are completed on time and within budget.
- 03
Direct or coordinate manufacturing, construction, installation, maintenance, support, documentation, or testing activities to ensure compliance with specifications, codes, or customer requirements.
- 04
Perform detailed calculations to compute and establish manufacturing, construction, or installation standards or specifications.
- 05
Operate computer-assisted engineering or design software or equipment to perform engineering tasks.
- 06
Confer with engineers, customers, or others to discuss existing or potential engineering projects or products.
- 07
Investigate or test vendors' or competitors' products.
- 08
Collect data relating to commercial or residential development, population, or power system interconnection to determine operating efficiency of electrical systems.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+7.1%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
Sponsored
Build the skills employers list for Electrical Engineers
Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.
Explore coursesCompare Electrical Engineers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Electrical Engineers in Hawaii?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Electrical Engineers in Hawaii is $105,060.
- How does Hawaii compare to the national median for Electrical Engineers?
- The Hawaii median is -8.1% versus the BLS national figure of $114,360.
- What is the salary range for Electrical Engineers in Hawaii?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $74,000 and the 90th-percentile at $140,150, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Electrical Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 7.1% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Electrical Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.