How Much Does an RN Make in Hawaii in 2026?

A typical RN in Hawaii earns about $65.54 per hour ($136,320 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $11,360 a month, or about $2,622 a week when calculated from the annual figure. The figures reflect wages reported across hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings statewide.

That pay runs 40% above the national figure of $97,550 a year for registered nurses, according to the same wage data. Hawaii ranks 2nd among all 50 states and the District of Columbia for RN pay. The state employs about 12,940 registered nurses, a workforce large enough to put its wage figures on firm footing.

Entry-level positions for registered nurses in Hawaii typically offer around $39.66 an hour, or about $82,500 a year. That's where many newly licensed nurses start out. Pay tends to move toward the typical $65.54-an-hour figure within the first few years on the job, as nurses gain clinical experience and take on more responsibility.

Experienced registered nurses in Hawaii often earn upwards of $69.30 an hour, and the top 10% of earners make over $71.07 an hour, or $147,830 a year. That leaves a spread of $65,330 between entry-level and top pay. Setting, years of experience, and city all play a part in where an individual nurse lands within that range.

In 2015, the typical registered nurse in Hawaii earned $92,290 a year. By 2025, that figure had climbed to $136,320, a gain of $44,030 over the decade. That amounts to a 48% rise in typical pay for RNs in the state.

Nationally, RN pay rose 45% over the same ten years. Hawaii's increase kept slightly ahead of the countrywide trend. For someone starting a nursing career in Hawaii now, that decade of steady gains shows pay has moved up over time, though nothing about future increases is guaranteed.

RN pay runs highest in Kahului and Wailuku, on Maui, where the typical wage reaches $144,350 a year, or $69.40 an hour. That's about 6% above the statewide figure of $136,320. Each of these figures reflects pay across the full surrounding metro area, not just the city center.

Urban Honolulu pays somewhat less, with a typical RN wage of $139,260 a year, or $66.95 an hour, putting the city spread across Hawaii's three metro areas at $5,090. Urban Honolulu also employs the most registered nurses in the state, with about 9,680 working there. The narrower gap between cities compared with pay differences in other states likely tracks the relatively even cost of living across Hawaii's metro areas.

Registered nurses in Hawaii typically earn $136,320 a year, a figure that has climbed 48% over the past decade. That places Hawaii well above the national pay for the profession. Nurses considering Hawaii, or already licensed there, can check the state board of nursing's licensing and registry page for current requirements, and consult city-level pages for local pay figures in places like Kahului, Wailuku, and Urban Honolulu.