HR Assistant salary in Honolulu, HI
For this job Honolulu sits right at the Hawaii figure, with a median of $48,930 a year1. That is about level with the Hawaii statewide median of $49,260, and 3.3% below the US median of $50,610. Among US areas it comes in at #166 of 384. It is the largest market for the job in Hawaii: about 370 people, 82% of the Hawaii total.
BLS occupation 43-4161, 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 | $40,180 | $48,930 | $67,650 | |
| Hawaii | $40,180 | $49,260 | $67,650 | |
| United States | $37,340 | $50,610 | $68,280 |
The middle half of HR assistants in Honolulu earns $44,280–$57,370. The top tenth earns $67,650 or more, 1.7 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.8 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $13,090 wide, between the figure for Hawaii ($12,240) and the US figure ($15,770).
What to budget for an HR assistant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,180 | $3,348 | $19.32 | $51,845 |
| 25th percentile | $44,280 | $3,690 | $21.29 | $57,135 |
| Median | $48,930 | $4,078 | $23.52 | $63,135 |
| 75th percentile | $57,370 | $4,781 | $27.58 | $74,026 |
| 90th percentile | $67,650 | $5,638 | $32.52 | $87,290 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $8,440 over the median, the 25th only $4,650 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $10,890 a year in employer cost. 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 $50,610 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Honolulu, and the Hawaii statewide median of $49,260 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Honolulu
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $14,205 to the $48,930 median and brings it to $63,135 a year. 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 HR assistants 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 #12 by median pay, between medical administrative assistants ($49,460) and bookkeepers ($48,030). Executive Assistant is the highest at $80,600.
| Role | Median | vs HR assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +2.2% | 5,130 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +1.1% | 1,580 | |
| HR Assistant | this role | 370 | |
| Bookkeeper | -1.8% | 3,590 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -2.7% | 160 |
Measured against the US median, HR assistants rank #11 of the 17 roles we track in Honolulu (-3.3%), between recruiters (-0.6%) and bookkeepers (-5.2%). The typical role here is at -0.3%, so, measured against the US, HR assistants cost less in Honolulu than the area's general pay level would suggest. HR assistants hold 0.9% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Honolulu, 0.8% across Hawaii and 0.6% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Hawaii
Across the 3 areas of Hawaii with data for this job, the median runs from $47,140 in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area to $51,530 in Kahului-Wailuku, a gap of $4,390 a year. No other area in Hawaii has as many HR assistants, and 1 of the other 2 pays less.
| Area | Median | vs Honolulu | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | +5.3% | 40 | |
| Honolulu, HI | this area | 370 | |
| Hawaii-Kauai (Nonmetro) | -3.7% | 40 |
Honolulu against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Honolulu is #50 of 382 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, Reno and Naples-Marco Island pay just above Honolulu and Miami-Fort Lauderdale and Austin-Round Rock just below. All four are within $40 a year of the median in Honolulu. Of the three markets with about as many HR assistants, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Honolulu | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | +0.1% | 30 | pay | |
| Reno, NV | +0.0% | 250 | pay | |
| Honolulu, HI | this area | 370 | ||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL | -0.0% | 830 | pay | |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | -0.1% | 510 | pay | |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | -0.6% | 370 | jobs | |
| Fayetteville-Springdale, AR | -5.6% | 370 | jobs | |
| Columbia, SC | -7.2% | 380 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an HR assistant in Honolulu, HI?
About $63,135 a year at the median, or $5,261 a month: $48,930 in pay plus about $14,205 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for HR assistants in Honolulu?
The median was $48,930 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $40,180, the 90th $67,650, and the middle half earned $44,280 to $57,370.
Is Honolulu cheaper than the rest of Hawaii for HR assistants?
About the same: a median of $48,930 against $49,260 statewide. The next area up in Hawaii is Kahului-Wailuku at $51,530, the next down the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area at $47,140.
How many HR assistants work in Honolulu?
BLS counts about 370 in the May 2025 survey. That is 82% of the Hawaii total of 450. No other area in Hawaii has as many.
Does an HR assistant cost more than a bookkeeper in Honolulu?
Yes: $900 a year more at the median. The medians are $48,930 and $48,030.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4161: 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.