Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in Hawaii
The median payroll specialist in Hawaii earned $62,070 a year in May 2025[1], 6.5% above the US median of $58,260. That puts Hawaii at #9 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-3051. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $45,140 | $62,070 | $83,810 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Hawaii earns $54,590–$76,780; the top tenth earns $83,810 or more, 1.9 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Hawaii median that makes about $88,671 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for payroll specialists 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in Hawaii
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $83,450 | 110 | |
| Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $69,900 | 70 | |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $77,040 | 530 |
Kahului-Wailuku, HI pays the most ($67,740) and Urban Honolulu, HI the least ($60,810): $6,930 a year apart for the same job.
What a payroll specialist does
A payroll specialist prepares payroll runs, checks hours and deductions, keeps employee pay records and answers staff questions about their pay.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Hawaii |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | +0.2% | |
| Connecticut | +0.2% | |
| Hawaii | +0.0% | |
| Illinois | -1.1% | |
| Minnesota | -1.2% |
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in Hawaii?
The median was $62,070 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $54,590 to $76,780.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in Hawaii?
About $88,671 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Hawaii do payroll specialists earn the most?
Kahului-Wailuku, HI, with a median of $67,740 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433051.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.