Electricians in Hawaii earned the 3rd highest average salary in the country as of 2015 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition, electricians in the rural area of Hawaii/Maui/Kauai earned the 3rd highest average salary of electricians in any rural part of the country.
With Hawaii’s construction industry booming, the state expects the number of jobs for electricians to increase by nearly 15% in the ten-year period ending in 2022 (Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations).
KHON2 published an article called “Construction industry to lead Hawaii’s economic expansion” in April 2016. This industry will again lead the state’s economy with the fastest growth rate of any industry in Hawaii according to figures from state’s economic development experts.
The Pacific Business News reported that the number of permits for commercial and industrial construction increased by 183% in the first half of 2015, while the number of residential permits increased by 96%.
Major projects underway as of mid 2016 that will provide opportunities for electricians include:
- Start of construction for the $200 million condominium high-rise in Honolulu
- Work underway on the $13 million renovation of the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa in Kaanapali
Salaries for Residential Electricians in Honolulu and Rural Hawaii/Kauai
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides the range of salaries earned by electricians in urban Honolulu and the rural area of Hawaii and Kauai. Highly skilled master electricians can expect to earn salaries at the highest end of these ranges (2015):
Salaries for Specialty Electricians in Urban Honolulu
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides salaries for a number of different types of specialized electricians that work in Honolulu (2015). Those with the most education and experience tend to earn salaries at the upper end of the ranges shown here:
- Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers: $43,550 – $63,210
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers: $79,000 – $98,640
- Electrical and Electronic Repairers Specializing in:
- Commercial and Industrial Equipment: $67,490 – $81,140
- Motor Vehicles: $24,590 – $31,660
- Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay: $83,800 – $99,090
The statewide average for electricians in these specialized roles is shown in the table below:
Salaries for Electrician Apprentices in Honolulu and Rural Hawaii/Kauai
Electrician apprentices in Hawaii earned the 3rd highest average salary in the country as of 2015 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In addition, electrician apprentices in these parts of Hawaii were extremely well paid:
- Urban Honolulu: 2nd highest average salary of any city in the country
- Rural Hawaii/Maui/Kauai: 5th highest average salary of any rural area in the US
The BLS provides salary data for the occupational classification for “Electrician’s Helpers” in both urban Honolulu and the rural areas of Hawaii and Kauai. This information is shown here to represent the wages earned during an electrical apprenticeship; 2015: