Teacher Salary in Hawaii: $68K Median

The average Teacher salary in Hawaii is $68,397 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $51,251 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $107,331 (90th percentile). State income tax applies.

Teachers in Hawaii earn approximately 5% more than the US national median ($65,140 nationally vs $68,397 in Hawaii). Hawaii's cost-of-living index of 190 partially offsets the higher salary.

Yes — Teacher salaries in Hawaii grew approximately 300.0% year-over-year, from $17,099 in 2025 to $68,397 in 2026. This reflects the broader Education sector's wage growth, driven by Special education and ESL/ELL demand.

Hawaii has no major metros in our database — fallback to the closest tracked city for detailed breakdowns.

Teacher demand stable nationally with severe shortages in special education, ESL, math, and science. Many districts offer signing bonuses up to $10K. Hawaii's top industries include Tourism, Military/Defense, Agriculture, and the state's unemployment rate is 2.9% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.

Yes, Hawaii has state income tax. This affects take-home pay — at $68,397, expect 4-7% effective state tax depending on filing status. See city pages for detailed take-home calculations.

Hottest 2026 skills: Special education, ESL/ELL, EdTech tools, STEM/STEAM, Trauma-informed teaching. ATS systems specifically scan for these. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — improves your match rate with Hawaii employers.

With my [specialty] endorsement and master's, I should be placed at step X on the salary schedule. Can you also confirm the signing-bonus and loan-forgiveness eligibility in writing? Beyond base, negotiate: Signing bonus for shortage-area subjects ($2K-$10K), Tuition reimbursement and step credit for advanced degrees, Loan forgiveness (PSLF, Teacher Loan Forgiveness), Pension eligibility and vesting timeline. Walk-away anchor for Hawaii: $65,140.