Salaries by Job Title: How Much Money Does Everyone Earn in Hawai‘i?

Everyone wants to know how much money everyone else makes—even more now given the gloomy economy. Take a look and find out how your paycheck stacks up.

Everyone wants to know how much money everyone else makes—even more now given the gloomy economic climate. We asked around town to find out what people are pulling down, from bank CEOs to L&L cashiers, to just about everyone else we could think of. Many local companies were guarded about releasing information, perhaps because of the recession. Salaries listed by job titles are a result of surveying local business owners and researching public and corporate records. Salaries attached to people by name are those that are public information—such as government officials and nonprofit executives. All figures reflect the most current salary information, some including pay reductions. Take a look and find out how your paycheck stacks up.

BUSINESS

 $2,465,080
Allan Landon, chairman and CEO of Bank of Hawai‘i
Landon receives an annual salary of $750,001 and $1,715,079 in bonuses and other compensation.

$2,515,000
Constance Lau, CEO and chair of American Savings Bank, chair of Hawaiian Electric Co. and CEO and president of Hawaiian Electric Industries, which is the parent company of ASB and HECO. Lau receives an annual salary of $763,000 and $1,752,000 in bonuses and other compensation.

$30,000 to $350,000
Insurance agent, Mass Mutual
“A lot of [the agents’] income is from commission and policy renewals,” says Wayne Tanaka, general manger of the Honolulu office. “The income potential is unlimited, some people make more than the president of the company.”

$12 to $17 an hour
Loomis Armored Delivery driver
Drivers go through background, credit and driver’s record checks, a drug test, a polygraph exam and a “human performance” exam. Top-scale drivers receive more based on years of experience, having a weapons license, and a Type 4 or CDL driver’s license (driving a vehicle weighing 15,001 to 26,001 pounds).

$55,090
Accountant, Honolulu average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

$11.33 per hour
Bank teller, Hawai‘i average, according to the Hawaii Employers Council.

$17,940 to $22,770
Mail assistant, Honolulu salary range, according to OfficeTeam, an international staffing service.

$19,090 to $26,680
Receptionist, Honolulu salary range, according to OfficeTeam.

$28,190
Travel Agent, Honolulu average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
 

NONPROFITS

$189,872
Howard Garval, president and CEO of Child & Family Services
Garval receives an annual salary of $187,992 and $1,880 in other compensation.

$149,538
Richard Grimm, president of the Hawaii Food Bank
Grimm receives an annual salary of $130,369 and $19,169 in other compensation.

$159,948
Pamela Burns, president and CEO of the Hawaiian Humane Society
Burns receives an annual salary of $153,500 and $6,448 in other compensation.

$170,445
Susan Au Doyle, president of Aloha United Way
Au Doyle receives an annual salary of $154,541 and $15,914 in other compensation.

$105,500
Paul Groesbeck, executive director of Life Foundation

$56,016
Lyn Brown, executive director of Make a Wish Foundation of Hawaii
 

POLITICIANS

$174,000
U.S. Sens. Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye and U.S. Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Mazie Hirono

$117,306
Gov. Linda Lingle.
This is after a 5 percent pay reduction set in 2009, but does not include additional  reductions as a result of mandated furloughs.

$114,420
Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona
This is after a 5 percent pay reduction set by Gov. Linda Lingle and the Legislature in 2009, but does not include additional reductions as a result of mandated furloughs. 
 

$114,422
Barry Fukunaga, chief of staff.
This is after a 5 percent pay reduction set by Lingle and the Legislature in 2009, but does not include additional reductions as a result of mandated furloughs. 

$108,973
Tier 2 State Department Directors.This includes the state Departments of Health, Transportation, Accounting and General Services and Commerce and Consumer Affairs. These department directors also received a 5 percent pay reduction and were furloughed.

$103,512
Tier 3 and 4 State Department Directors
This includes the state Departments of Human Resources, Labor and Industrial Relations, Land and Natural Resources, Business Economic Development and Tourism, Agriculture, Hawaiian Home Lands, Public Safety and Human Resources Development. Department directors also received a 5 percent pay reduction and were furloughed.

$46,273
State Legislators. The Legislative session consists of 60 working days from January through May. Legislators received a 36 percent pay raise in January 2009, up from $35,900, but later in 2009 received a 5 percent pay reduction. 

$129,612
Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann
Hannemann received a 6.5 percent raise in 2008, but the following year took a 5 percent pay reduction.

$109,152
Big Island Mayor William “Billy” Kenoi
As of last July, Kenoi mandated that all city department heads and appointees—including himself—take one furlough day per month. “We still come in to work that day but it’s a freebie,” says Desiree Cruz, the mayor’s public relations specialist.

$58,596
Todd Apo, Honolulu City Council chair

$52,446
Honolulu City Council members
The Council members received a 6.5 percent pay raise in 2008.

$59,004
Haunani Apoliona, Office of Hawaiian Affairs chair

$51,756
Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees
 

CIVIL SERVANTS

$28,836 to $44,412
DMV clerk

$32,980
City park groundskeeper

$62,424 to $92,400
Liquor Control
investigator, top scale

$46,236
Automated refuse collection equipment operator, a.k.a., garbage truck driver
 

SPORTS

$223,200
James Donovon, UH athletic director
Donovan took a 7 percent pay cut in July.

$1,023,000
Greg McMackin, UH head football coach
When McMackin was hired in January 2008, his  almost $1.1 million salary—a combination of taxpayer dollars and private donations—made him the state’s highest-paid employee.

$179,328
Dave Shoji, UH head women’s volleyball coach

$53,820 to $107,640
Charlie Wade, UH head men’s volleyball coach
The UH Athletic Department would only provide a range for Wade’s position.

$50,712 to $80,676
Ronn Miyashiro, UH head men’s golf coach
The UH Athletic Department would only provide a range for Miyashiro’s position.

$25 to $35 per hour
Personal trainer, Honolulu Club.
This doesn’t include monthly bonuses.

$47,190
Athletic trainers,
Honolulu average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

$9.50 to $11 an hour
Ocean safety guide, Hans Hedemann Surf School.
Guides get in the water with students but don’t instruct.

$125 per day for three two-hour lessons
Licensed surfing instructor, Hans Hedemann Surf School
Ocean safety guides and instructors must have lifeguard and CPR licenses.
 

EDUCATORS

$427,512
M.R.C. Greenwood, UH president.
This reflects a 10 percent pay cut in August 2009.

$337,632
Virginia Hinshaw, UH Manoa chancellor
This reflects a pay cut in August 2009.
 

$374,928
Aviam Soifer, dean of the UH William S. Richardson School of Law

$152, 280
Paula Mochida, the interim UH librarian

$323,025
Chatt Wright, Hawaii
Pacific University president, provided by Guidestar.com.

$69,996 to $233,328
UH professor. This is the salary range of a full, 9-month-appointment professor, not including those who teach law or medicine. It also reflects a 6.6 percent pay reduction set this January.

$69,996 to $104,603
UH community college professor This is the salary range of a full, 9-month appointment professor. It also reflects a 6.6 percent pay reduction set this January.

$87,300
Kamehameha Schools trustee

$108,000
Diane Plotts, chair of the Board of Trustees, Kamehameha Schools

$137,362
Betty White, headmaster, Sacred Hearts Academy

$36,591 to $69,235
Teacher, Sacred Hearts Academy
 

$380,523
James Scott, president of Punahou School. This includes other compensation.

$44,432
Punahou Teacher
Starting salary with one year of experience and a master’s degree.

$90,160
Punahou Teacher
with 20 years of experience and a master’s degree.

$39,704.44 to $40,895.84
Public school teacher starting, with a bachelor’s degree and state-approved teacher education program. This range reflects an 8 percent pay reduction.

$51,129 to $52,663.56
Public school teacher
starting, with a Ph.D. and state-approved teacher education program. This range reflects an 8 percent pay reduction.

$53,249.60 to $72,836.40
Public school teacher with more than 20 years of experience, master’s degree and additional credentials. This ranges reflects an 8 percent pay reduction.

$78,827.44 to $143,319.44
Public school principal (elementary to high school)
This range reflects an 8 percent pay reduction.

$39,704.44 to $72,836.40
Public school librarian
This range reflects an 8 percent pay reduction.
 

STATE ASSISTANCE

$1,164 per month
Average Social Security payment for a Hawaii retiree in 2009

$1,064 per month
Average Social Security payment for a disabled Hawaii worker in 2009

$411 per week
Average unemployment payment in Hawaii in 2009

$20.34 per hour
Welfare case worker
 

HEALTHCARE

$710,000
Chuck Sted, president and CEO of Hawai‘i Pacific Health (which includes Straub, Wilcox, Pali Momi and Kapi‘olani hospitals). This is only Sted’s annual base salary.

$802,853
Arthur Ushijima, president and CEO of the Queen’s Health Systems and president of the Queen’s Medical Center
This includes his annual base salary and other compensation.

$434,123
Gary Kajiwara, president and CEO of Kuakini Health Systems
Kajiwara receives an annual salary of $380,990 and $53,133 in other compensation. This is a 2008 number provided by Guidestar.com.

$112,348
Dr. William Goodhue, Jr., acting chief medical examiner of Honolulu. This is after a voluntary 5 percent pay reduction the City Cabinet set in July 2009. Goodhue is the interim chief medical examiner.
 

These salary averages for Hawaii physicians were provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

FOOD AND DRINK

$7 per hour, not including tips
Server, Doraku Sushi
Servers at Doraku Sushi make less than the state minimum wage. “When it is busy they can make from $100 to $300 a shift in tips,” says manager Todd Sutton.

$7 per hour, not including tips
Bartender, Senor Frogs
Bartenders at Senor Frogs make less than the state minimum wage of $7.25.

$52,797
Chef, Hawaii average, according to Hawai‘i Employers Council.

$40,000 to $45,000
Restaurant manager, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

$7.25 to $8.05 per hour
Counter help, McDonald’s

$8 to $12 per hour
Counter help, L&L Hawaiian Barbeque

$42,132 to $67,488
State health inspector
There are 31 DOH inspectors statewide for Hawai‘i’s thousands of restaurants.

$13 an hour
Door host (bouncer), Level 4 Nightclub & Ultra Lounge
Level 4 door hosts don’t work more than 40 hours a week.

$100 to $500 a night
Mobile DJ. DJ’s are paid per venue, the pay depending on the venue and the deejay’s experience and popularity.

$100 a night, not including tips
Go-go dancer, Zanzabar Nightclub. Dancers at Zanzabar dance three, 30-to-40-minute sets per night.

$20 to $35 per hour
Beer promoters, brand ambassador for Heineken, Bud Light or Miller Light. These are seasonal positions.
 

SERVICES

$31,000 (including tips)
Hairstylist, J Salon, starting

$91,000 (including tips)
Hairstylist, J Salon, top scale

$24,000 to $30,000 (including tips)
Hairstylist, W Salon, starting

$100,000 to $125,000 (including tips)
Hairstylist, W Salon, top scale

$20 to $25 per hour
Master designer, Beretania Florist
Master designers do larger projects, such as weddings and other special events.

$10 to $18 per hour
Designer, Beretania Florist

$8 to $10 per hour
Assistant designer, Beretania Florist

$33,228
Plumber, Hawaii Department of Education

$15 per hour
Window washer, starting, Worldwide Window Cleaning

$14.92 per hour
Hotel Housekeeper, Hawaii average, according to the Hawai‘i Employers Council.

$21,600
Water delivery person, Aloha Water Co.

$33,228
Public school custodian

$75,000 to $125,000
Electrical engineer, Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.

$30,160
Weed control applicator, Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.

$50,730
Welder specialist, Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.

$24,860
Funeral attendant, Honolulu average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
 

RETAILERS

$8 per hour
Salesperson, Raging Isle Surf & Cycle (no commission)

$12.57 to $13.70 per hour
Sales consultant, AT&T
Consultants can earn up to $1,200 more per month in commissions.

$9 to $15 per hour
Cashier, Foodland

$16 to $25 per hour
Top jewelry sales associates (including commissions), Maui Divers Jewelry
 

CONSTRUCTION

$39,480 to $60,744
Building construction inspector

$51,936 to $79,992
Chief building inspector

$38.95 per hour
Heat and frost insulator and allied workers

$31.15 per hour
Cement worker

$33.60 per hour
Roofer, shingle or tile worker

$36.10 per hour
Crane operator, waterfront dredging

$28.93 per hour
Concrete-mixing truck driver, Hawaiian Cement

$35.19 per hour
Hot liquid asphalt tanker driver, Grace Pacific Corp.

$55,930
Real estate broker, Honolulu average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics.
 

TRANSPORTATION

$25,518 to $38,277
Security screener, Honolulu International Airport

$7.25 to $9 per hour
Parking structure attendant, Honolulu International Airport

$72,000 per year (including commissions)
Car salesperson, starting, Tony Group

$100,000 per year (including commissions)
Top-grossing salesperson, Tony Group

$12 per hour
Car mechanic,  Manoa Service Station, starting

$19 per hour
Car mechanic, Manoa Service Station, top scale

$31,500
Vehicle service attendant, starting, Enterprise Rent-a-Car

$9 per hour
Mover, M. Dyer & Sons

$75,000
UPS delivery truck driver

$21.31 per hour
Hawaii letter carrier, starting, U.S. Postal Service
Letter carriers also receive an additional 25 percent cost-of-living allowance.

$23.96 per hour
Driver, TheBus, after five years of service.

$26,950
Taxi driver, Honolulu average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Drivers for TheCab are independent contractors, so they pay TheCab $500 to $600 for a monthly dispatch service and keep their earnings.
 

ART & CULTURE

$180,000
Timothy Johns, CEO and president, Bishop Museum
This reflects museum wide-pay reductions.

$83,790
Dr. Allen Allison, vice president of sciences, Bishop Museum. This reflects a pay reduction.

$125,000
Sarah Richards, president of the Hawai‘i Theatre Center. This is only Richards’ base salary.

$261,021
Von Orgill, president of the Polynesian Cultural Center, according to PCC’s 990 tax form from Guidestar.com.

$500 per act
Local musicians
This number is for a three-hour performance at the Outrigger Reef hotels, regardless of how many performers are in the band. 

$1,800 to $2,140 per month
Adult Company Actor, Honolulu Theatre for Youth Actors are paid for their performances, anywhere from six weeks to 12 months. HTY is the only theater company in the state that employs full-time actors.
 

LAW AND ORDER

$136,236
Louis Kealoha, Honolulu Police Department police chief. Kealoha become the HPD Chief in 2009. The position received an 8 percent salary increase in 2008.

$48,336
Honolulu Police Department officer, recruit

$66,468
HPD officer, with 20 years of experience.

$36,516
Deputy sheriff, recruit

$44,412 to $68,388
Deputy sheriff, lieutenant

$40,163
Adult corrections officer, recruit

$57,660 to $71,184
Adult corrections officer, captain

$136,236
Kenneth Silva, Honolulu Fire Department chief
Silva received an 8 percent salary increase in 2008.

$42,552
Fire recruit
A recruit usually becomes a firefighter after one year of service.

$46,020
Firefighter, starting

$58,212
Firefighter, with 20 years experience.

$70,824 to $79,656
Fire captain, depending on years of experience.

$114,422
Mark Bennett, attorney general. This is after a 5 percent pay reduction in 2009. This does not include an additional pay reduction as a result of mandated furloughs.

$174,000
U.S. District Court judge

$156,727
Ronald Moon, chief justice, Hawaii State Supreme Court. Moon will retire in September, when he turns 70. He has been the longest serving chief justice since statehood, serving 17 years. His salary is after a 5 percent pay reduction.

$151,118
Associate justice, Hawaii State Supreme Court
This is after a 5 percent pay reduction.

$60,490
Court reporter, Honolulu average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

$129,312
Peter Carlisle, Honolulu city prosecutor. Carlisle received a 9 percent salary increase in 2008.

$96,696
Jack Tonaki, state public defender. This is after a five percent pay reduction and furloughs.

$51,800
Deputy public defender, starting. This is after a 5 percent pay reduction and furloughs.

$95,190
Lawyer, Honolulu average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
 

MEDIA

(Note: The figures were the latest available before the proposed merger of the two papers.)

$1,082.25 per week
Reporter, The Honolulu Advertiser, with five years of experience.

$896.49 per week
Reporter, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, with five years of experience.

$40,000
Reporter, KITV

$65,000 to $85,000
Anchor, KITV
 

MILITARY

Enlisted soldiers who do not live on base receive a housing allowance starting at $1,572 a month in Honolulu County and a food allowance of $323.87 a month. The cost-of-living allowance for Oahu starts at $14.62 per day, or about $450 per month. The housing allowance increases with rank and the number of dependents. The cost-of-living allowance increases with rank, time served and the number of dependents.

$1,447.20 per month
E-1 (example, U.S. Army private).

$5,995.60 per month
O-3 (example, U.S. Navy lieutenant with more than 14 years of experience).

$11,381.40 per month
O-7 (example, U.S. Army brigadier general with more than 20 years of experience).