Lawyer Salary in Kahului, HI: $155,343 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time lawyer in Kahului, HI earns a median $155,343/year (≈ $74.68/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-1011). Once you factor in Kahului's price level (9% above national, BEA RPP 109.4), that paycheck buys what $142,005 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 22.1% below the Hawaii state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Kahului, Hawaii, a lawyer's median annual salary is projected to be $155,343, revealing a competitive compensation landscape relative to national figures. Median pay falls within a range from $90,942 at the lower end (P10) to $203,579 at the higher end (P90). These estimates are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026. In this geographic context, legal professionals often weigh opportunities in public sector roles—which may offer student loan forgiveness—against potentially more lucrative positions in private practice. Given the smaller legal market in Kahului, insights into job opportunities reveal how salary variances can partly stem from the choice between public service and private sector careers.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $90,942 | $43.72 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $110,563 | $53.16 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $155,343 | $74.68 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $155,343 | $74.68 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $203,579 | $97.87 |
Median Salary Position
7.08% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Kahului
In Kahului, HI, the lawyer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $112,637 (2026 est.). At $155,343, the local median is 7.08% below the national median of $167,174.
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At 40 hours/week in Kahului: You'd be above the median
How Kahului Lawyer Pay Compares
Kahului median: $155,343/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Kahului Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Average | $199,414 | -22.10% less |
| National Average | $167,174 | -7.08% less |
Lawyers in Kahului, HI earn a median of $155,343 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.08% lower than the national median of $167,174 and 22.10% below the Hawaii state average of $199,414.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Kahului has a cost of living 9.39% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Kahului, HI has a cost-of-living index of 109.393 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $155,343 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $142,005 — a 8.59% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$113,150
2025 BLS Actual
$148,370
2026 Current Est.
$155,343
2019–2027 Growth
+43.7%
Salary Trajectory for Lawyers in Kahului (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.70% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $113,150 | Actual |
| 2020 | $117,000 | Actual |
| 2021 | $99,880 | Actual |
| 2022 | $118,790 | Actual |
| 2023 | $119,860 | Actual |
| 2024 | $133,000 | Actual |
| 2025 | $148,370 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $155,343 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $162,645 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Kahului metropolitan area, the median lawyer salary grew 31.1% from $113,150 (2019) to $148,370 (2025). At a 4.70% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $162,645 by 2027 — a total increase of $49,495 (43.74%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Kahului metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.70% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $90,942 – $110,563 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $110,563 – $155,343 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $155,343 – $155,343 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $155,343 – $203,579 |
Esq salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual lawyer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Lawyer Job Market in Kahului
With 160 lawyers currently employed in Kahului, the local job market offers a firm footing for those seeking legal work. However, the cost of living index for the area sits at 109.393, indicating that everyday expenses can sharply affect take-home pay. While BigLaw firms such as Cravath and Skadden typically offer substantial salaries, Kahului lacks these towering institutions, leaning more towards regional firms and small practices which can pay from $80,000 to $160,000. Publicly funded positions and legal aid roles may provide more stable hours and benefits but usually come with lower pay. The disparity in compensation often relates to firm type, billable hour expectations, and individual negotiation skills. To maximize potential earnings in Kahului, lawyers should actively pursue partnerships in emerging practice areas, networking extensively, and considering specialized fields that offer higher compensation against the backdrop of the local market.
More salary data for Kahului, HI:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Alexandra Chen, JD
Career Analyst
Alexandra has 10 years of experience in corporate law. She specializes in mergers and acquisitions. Alexandra works at a mid-sized law firm in New York City.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $148,370 for lawyersin the Kahului metropolitan area. A 4.70% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.70%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for lawyers (SOC 23-1011).
Compiled and verified by Alexandra Chen, JD, a licensed lawyer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov