How Much Does a CNA Make in Hawaii in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Hawaii, from federal wage data (May 2025), with pay by city, the ten-year trend, and how the state compares.
BLS OES May 2025 · Hawaii · typical annual pay from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth
A typical CNA in Hawaii earns about $21.80 per hour ($45,350 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That is about 7% above the national figure of $20.32 per hour ($42,260 per year), placing Hawaii 18th among the 51 states and territories ranked for CNA pay. Roughly 5,050 CNAs work across the state, according to the same data.
How much does a CNA make in Hawaii?
CNA pay by career stage in Hawaii
| Career stage | Hawaii | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,000$17.31 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $40,060$19.26 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $45,350$21.80 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $50,440$24.25 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $52,660$25.32 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · starting out is the 10th percentile, first years the 25th, typical the median, experienced the 75th, top 10% the 90th
CNA pay growth in Hawaii
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in Hawaii · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, CNAs in Hawaii typically earned $30,410 per year. By 2025, that figure had risen to $45,350, a 49% increase over the decade. Nationally, CNA pay rose 64% over the same stretch, so Hawaii's gain trailed the country's pace even as dollar-for-dollar pay stayed higher than the national figure. For someone starting as a CNA in Hawaii now, the decade-long trend shows pay has been moving upward, though nothing about the future is guaranteed.
CNA salary by city in Hawaii
Pay runs highest in the Kahului-Wailuku metro area, where CNAs typically earn $47,630 per year ($22.90 per hour), a figure that covers the full metro area. Urban Honolulu, home to the bulk of the state's CNA workforce at 3,770 workers, runs lower at $45,260 per year ($21.76 per hour). The gap between the highest- and lowest-paying metro areas in Hawaii is $2,370 a year. As in most places, pay tends to track the local cost of living, and Hawaii's cities are no exception.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Hawaii | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului metro incl. Wailuku | $47,630 | $22.90 | +5% | 330 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu | $45,260 | $21.76 | 0% | 3,770 |
Each row is one BLS metro area; cities that share a metro share its figures · BLS OES May 2025 · Hawaii typical pay $45,350
Is Hawaii a good state for CNAs?
CNAs in Hawaii earn a competitive wage: typical pay is $45,350 a year, 7% above the national figure, ranking 18th of 51. For every 1,000 jobs in Hawaii, about 8.0 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.4. CNA jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country. Taken together, Hawaii is one of the better-paying states for CNAs.
Summary
CNAs in Hawaii typically earn $21.80 per hour ($45,350 per year) as of May 2025, up 49% over the past decade. Pay runs highest around Kahului and Wailuku and lowest in Urban Honolulu. For certification requirements, check Hawaii's state registry page; for a closer look at local pay, see the city-specific pages for Kahului, Wailuku, and Urban Honolulu.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Hawaii?
- A CNA in Hawaii typically earns **$21.80 per hour**, or about **$45,350 per year**, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That is roughly 7% above the national figure of $42,260 per year. Pay varies somewhat by city, with the Kahului-Wailuku area running highest.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Hawaii?
- CNAs in Hawaii typically earn **$21.80 an hour**. Entry-level CNAs generally start around $17.31 an hour, while experienced CNAs often earn upwards of $25.32 an hour, based on May 2025 wage data.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Hawaii?
- Entry-level CNAs in Hawaii typically start around **$17.31 per hour**, or about **$36,000 per year**. As CNAs gain experience, pay moves up from there; those in the next tier typically earn closer to $19.26 per hour ($40,060 per year), per May 2025 wage data.
- Which city in Hawaii pays CNAs the most?
- Kahului and Wailuku, part of the same metro area on Maui, pay CNAs the most in Hawaii, with typical pay of **$47,630 per year** ($22.90 per hour). Urban Honolulu, the state's largest CNA workforce, runs lower at $45,260 per year, a difference of $2,370 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Hawaii higher than the national rate?
- Yes. CNAs in Hawaii typically earn **$45,350 per year** ($21.80 per hour), about 7% above the national figure of $42,260 per year ($20.32 per hour), according to May 2025 wage data. Hawaii ranks 18th among the 51 states and territories tracked for CNA pay.