Physician Assistant.
Honolulu.
$166,000
median salary, 25% above the national average
$142,000 to $200,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Physician Assistant pay in Honolulu ranges from $142,000 to $200,000 in 2026. The median is $166,000, 25% 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 Physician Assistant 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 $170,060 for Physician Assistants (SOC 29-1071) in the Urban Honolulu, HI metropolitan area, based on 390 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$85,860
25th percentile
$147,570
Median
$170,060
75th percentile
$170,060
90th percentile
$178,110
Workers surveyed
390
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Physician Assistants (SOC 29-1071) rather than Physician Assistant 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 29-1071Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $149,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$108,000
to $133,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$141,000
to $174,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$183,000
to $216,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$208,000
to $257,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $44,000 to the total package.
Base
$166,000
Equity
$25,000
Bonus
$16,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $210,000
How Honolulu compares.
Honolulu, HI
$166,000
Cost of living: 30% above average
National Average
$133,000
Honolulu is $33,000 above
Physician Assistant salary by city.
Salary by role in Honolulu.
What you should know.
Before you negotiate a Physician Assistant offer in Honolulu, understand the terrain. 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. Surgical subspecialties and emergency medicine pay the highest PA salaries, often 20 to 30% above primary care. Geographic location matters significantly, with rural and underserved areas offering premium pay to attract talent. Experience in procedural skills and first-assist certification further boost compensation.
Entry-level PAs earn $95,000 to $105,000 in their first role. Mid-career PAs with specialty experience reach $120,000 to $135,000. Senior PAs in surgical specialties or leadership positions can command $145,000 to $165,000 with additional administrative responsibilities. 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. PAs commonly receive productivity bonuses, CME allowances of $2,000 to $5,000 annually, malpractice insurance, and relocation assistance. Hospital systems often add shift differentials for nights, weekends, and call coverage. 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 $166,000, 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 Physician Assistants in Honolulu runs from $142,000 to $200,000. 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 Pharmacist in Honolulu earns $165,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Honolulu is CTO at $398,000
Common questions.
Physician Assistant salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Honolulu.
Related salary pages
Jump to nearby roles and cities most relevant to Physician Assistants in Honolulu.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Physician Assistant Salary in Honolulu, HI." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/physician-assistant/honolulu
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