Data Architect (AI/ML).
Honolulu.
$180,000
median salary, 32% above the national average
$138,000 to $232,000. Last updated August 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
Honolulu is 30% more expensive than the national average. For Data Architect (AI/ML)s, that shakes out to a median of $180,000, with the full range spanning $138,000 to $232,000. Data architects specializing in AI and ML systems command premium pay for designing scalable data platforms that support model training and serving. Know the range before you walk in. 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 Data Architect (AI/ML) in Honolulu, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. BLS does not publish this occupation for this metro area, so the national published benchmark is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $139,500 for Database Architects (SOC 15-1243) across the United States, based on 67,140 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$86,240
25th percentile
$109,370
Median
$139,500
75th percentile
$169,290
90th percentile
$204,000
Workers surveyed
67,140
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$135,980
May 2025 release
$139,500
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $180,000 is 29% higher than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and Database Architects covers a different population than the Data Architect (AI/ML) 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 Database Architects (SOC 15-1243) rather than Data Architect (AI/ML) specifically. The national 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 15-1243Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $162,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$117,000
to $144,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$153,000
to $189,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$198,000
to $234,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$225,000
to $279,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $48,000 to the total package.
Base
$180,000
Equity
$27,000
Bonus
$17,000
Signing
$4,000
Estimated total: $228,000
How Honolulu compares.
Honolulu, HI
$180,000
Cost of living: 30% above average
National Average
$136,000
Honolulu is $44,000 above
Data Architect (AI/ML) salary by city.
Salary by role in Honolulu.
What you should know.
The Data Architect (AI/ML) landscape in Honolulu is not what most salary sites will tell you. 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. Data architects specializing in AI and ML systems command premium pay for designing scalable data platforms that support model training and serving. Experience architecting lakehouse solutions and real-time feature stores is highly valued. Enterprise experience at companies with complex data governance requirements adds 15 to 25% to compensation.
Junior data architects earn $135,000 to $160,000. Architects with 5 to 8 years of experience designing ML data systems reach $178,000 to $232,000. Principal architects earn $240,000 to $320,000, while chief data architects and VP-level roles can command $350,000 to $450,000. 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. Senior data architects receive equity packages of 20 to 35% of base salary at tech companies. Consulting data architects can earn $200 to $350 per hour as independent contractors. Annual bonuses range from 15 to 25%, with some firms offering architecture patent bonuses. 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 $180,000, 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 Data Architect (AI/ML)s in Honolulu runs from $138,000 to $232,000. 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?
- An AI Engineer in Honolulu earns $178,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Honolulu is CTO at $398,000
- See all ai engineering roles tracked in Orbyt Intelligence
Common questions.
Data Architect (AI/ML) salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Honolulu.
Related salary pages
Jump to nearby roles and cities most relevant to Data Architect (AI/ML)s in Honolulu.
Related tools.
Do you work as a data architect (ai/ml) in Honolulu?
Your individual figure is never published. Submissions appear only as aggregate percentiles, and nothing is shown for a role and city until at least five people have reported. It is stored against your account, which is what keeps the dataset clean.
Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Data Architect (AI/ML) Salary in Honolulu, HI." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/data-architect-ai-ml/honolulu
Want this data on your site? Embed the salary widget. One script tag, free forever.
Related tools