What are the Best Careers for Hawaii?

Before you move to Hawaii, one of the most important things you should do is make sure you have a solid source of income to support yourself.   

Earning a living is probably one of the first things you should plan for when moving. Unless you are retired with boatloads of money, Hawaii's cost of living is higher than most expect. While you may be able to get a job after you arrive, that's far from a guarantee. Without a job lined up or some other source of income, your savings can drain surprisingly quickly.

While moving to Hawaii can be a fun adventure, sustaining a life there takes money. So, what are the best careers in Hawaii that will sustain a moderately comfortable lifestyle?

Fastest Growing Occupations

The fastest-growing occupations in Hawaii currently are radiologic technologists and technicians. These two along with occupational therapy assistants top the list of one of the most popular and affluent types of jobs in the Hawaiian Islands.

Others that made the list include veterinarian technologists and technicians, physical therapists, diagnostic medical sonographers, respiratory therapists, and registered nurses. There are currently over 12,000 registered nurse positions with a 19% increase over the last 10 years throughout the Hawaiian Islands. This offers an annual income of about $104,000. Nurse practitioners come in and about $124,000 and Nurse Anesthetist's annual income is about $190,000. Nursing assistants start at about $37,000.

Highest Paid Jobs in Hawaii as of 2021 include:

• Loan servicing specialists with an average salary of $329,000 and entry-level salary of $200,000
• VP of Application Development with an annual salary of $251,000
• Director of consumer marketing with an average salary of $240,000
• Chief Executive Officer and operator with an annual salary of $237,000
• Medical safety director with an average salary of $231,000
• Risk Management Director with an annual salary of $225,000

From there it goes into the medical department with physicians assistants, pain management specialists and pediatrics having annual starting incomes of about $169,000 and annual average incomes of $221,000. Family and general practitioners' average salary is about $240,000, with an entry-level salary of $139,000. 

More: What about remote working from home?

While these careers are definitely some of the higher income brackets they don't account for the majority of jobs. Hawaii is largely tourist-based, so retail sales workers top the list of employed persons with over 42,000 jobs, making up around 6% of total civilian jobs in the Hawaiian Islands. This is Followed closely by the food industry workers, which make up about 41,000 or 5.7% and construction trade workers at about 4.8% or 34,000.

More: Which states are easier to move to Hawaii from?

The tech, medical, and financial industry are generally the best paid careers in Hawaii, allowing a fairly comfortable life. If you’re considering relocating to Hawaii and specifically moving to Oahu, contact our office at any time to request a consultation.

Source: UHCC.Hawaii.EDU - Zippia