Civil Engineer.
Honolulu.
$129,000
median salary, 29% above the national average
$102,000 to $165,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Civil Engineer pay in Honolulu ranges from $102,000 to $165,000 in 2026. The median is $129,000, 29% above the national average. Honolulu's economy is driven by military spending, tourism, and healthcare. Every dollar in that range is negotiable if you come prepared. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Civil Engineer in Honolulu, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $94,600 for Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051) in the Urban Honolulu, HI metropolitan area, based on 2,300 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$62,870
25th percentile
$77,560
Median
$94,600
75th percentile
$113,550
90th percentile
$132,020
Workers surveyed
2,300
Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $129,000 is 36% higher than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and Civil Engineers covers a different population than the Civil Engineer title as it is typically advertised. Both are shown, unreconciled, so you can judge which one describes the job you mean.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051) rather than Civil Engineer specifically. The Honolulu range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 17-2051Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $116,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$84,000
to $103,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$110,000
to $135,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$142,000
to $168,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$161,000
to $200,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $34,000 to the total package.
Base
$129,000
Equity
$19,000
Bonus
$12,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $163,000
How Honolulu compares.
Honolulu, HI
$129,000
Cost of living: 30% above average
National Average
$100,000
Honolulu is $29,000 above
Civil Engineer salary by city.
Salary by role in Honolulu.
What you should know.
If you are interviewing for Civil Engineer roles in Honolulu, here is what you are walking into. Honolulu's economy is driven by military spending, tourism, and healthcare. The extremely high cost of living means employers must pay significant premiums. Federal and defense contractor roles offer the highest salaries, while the growing renewable energy sector is creating new technology positions. PE licensure is nearly essential for advancement and adds significant salary premium. Specialization in transportation, water resources, or geotechnical engineering pays more than general site development. Geographic demand driven by infrastructure spending varies widely, with high-growth Sun Belt metros offering the best compensation packages.
Entry-level civil engineers (EIT) start at $68,000 to $78,000. Licensed PEs earn $86,000 to $112,000 after four to six years. Project managers reach $110,000 to $145,000, with principals at engineering firms earning $150,000 to $200,000 or more. In Honolulu, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 30% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
Base salary is not the full picture. Consulting firms offer bonuses of 5 to 10% tied to project billing targets. Government civil engineers receive pension benefits, step increases, and strong job security. Many firms cover PE exam costs and provide annual professional development stipends. And on the tax side: hawaii has the highest top state income tax rate in the nation at 11%. Honolulu has no city income tax, but the state burden combined with high living costs requires careful salary planning. When someone quotes you $129,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Negotiate housing allowances alongside salary. Honolulu employers, especially federal contractors, often provide COLA adjustments and housing stipends that significantly increase total compensation. The range for Civil Engineers in Honolulu runs from $102,000 to $165,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Project Manager in Honolulu earns $130,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Honolulu is CTO at $398,000
Common questions.
Civil Engineer salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Honolulu.
Related salary pages
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Civil Engineer Salary in Honolulu, HI." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/civil-engineer/honolulu
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