Accountant salary in Honolulu, HI
Honolulu pays accountants close to the Hawaii norm. The median is $74,990 a year1, about level with the Hawaii statewide median of $74,500 and 10.4% below the US median of $83,680. Nationally it ranks #333 of 521 areas. It is the largest market for the job in Hawaii: about 3,590 people, 77% of the Hawaii total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Urban Honolulu, HI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Honolulu against Hawaii and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | $49,770 | $74,990 | $116,850 | |
| Hawaii | $49,860 | $74,500 | $117,840 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Honolulu earns $60,890–$92,870. The top tenth earns $116,850 or more, 2.3 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.6 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $31,980 wide, against $32,160 across Hawaii and $42,790 nationally: employers in Honolulu pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,770 | $4,148 | $23.93 | $64,219 |
| 25th percentile | $60,890 | $5,074 | $29.27 | $78,568 |
| Median | $74,990 | $6,249 | $36.05 | $96,761 |
| 75th percentile | $92,870 | $7,739 | $44.65 | $119,832 |
| 90th percentile | $116,850 | $9,738 | $56.18 | $150,774 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $17,880 a year in pay and about $23,071 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $14,100 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $83,680 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Honolulu, and the Hawaii statewide median of $74,500 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Honolulu
At the $74,990 median, a local hire costs about $96,761 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $21,771 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Honolulu
Of the 17 roles we track in Honolulu, this one ranks #4 by median pay, between recruiters ($75,490) and marketing specialists ($62,990). Executive Assistant is the highest at $80,600.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +5.5% | 1,240 | |
| Recruiter | +0.7% | 1,990 | |
| Accountant | this role | 3,590 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -16.0% | 1,090 | |
| Office Manager | -16.0% | 7,220 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #14 of the 17 roles we track in Honolulu (-10.4%), between office managers (-9.4%) and sales development representatives (-11.8%). The typical role here is at -0.3%, so, measured against the US, accountants cost less in Honolulu than the area's general pay level would suggest. Accountants hold 9.0% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Honolulu, 8.6% across Hawaii and 9.1% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Hawaii
Across the 3 areas of Hawaii with data for this job, the median runs from $69,430 in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area to $78,630 in Kahului-Wailuku, a gap of $9,200 a year. No other area in Hawaii has as many accountants, and 1 of the other 2 pays less.
| Area | Median | vs Honolulu | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | +4.9% | 440 | |
| Honolulu, HI | this area | 3,590 | |
| Hawaii-Kauai (Nonmetro) | -7.4% | 590 |
Honolulu against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Honolulu is #59 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Hawaii, Goldsboro and Montgomery pay just above Honolulu and Macon-Bibb County and Traverse City just below. All four are within $170 a year of the median in Honolulu. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Honolulu | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | +6.9% | 3,300 | jobs | |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | +3.9% | 3,740 | jobs | |
| Montgomery, AL | +0.1% | 2,530 | pay | |
| Goldsboro, NC | +0.0% | 230 | pay | |
| Honolulu, HI | this area | 3,590 | ||
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | -0.2% | 640 | pay | |
| Traverse City, MI | -0.2% | 610 | pay | |
| Baton Rouge, LA | -2.6% | 3,410 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Honolulu, HI?
About $96,761 a year at the median, or $8,063 a month: $74,990 in pay plus about $21,771 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for accountants in Honolulu?
The median was $74,990 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $49,770, the 90th $116,850, and the middle half earned $60,890 to $92,870.
Is Honolulu cheaper than the rest of Hawaii for accountants?
About the same: a median of $74,990 against $74,500 statewide. The next area up in Hawaii is Kahului-Wailuku at $78,630, the next down the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area at $69,430.
How many accountants work in Honolulu?
BLS counts about 3,590 in the May 2025 survey. That is 77% of the Hawaii total of 4,670. No other area in Hawaii has as many.
Does an accountant cost more than a marketing specialist in Honolulu?
Yes: $12,000 a year more at the median. The medians are $74,990 and $62,990.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.