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A Workstream hiring specialist can help you identify high impact ways to improve your applicant experience, and even help you determine what is a good hourly wage for your location and business.
As of June 9, 2023, the minimum wage in Hawaii is $12.00 per hour. This is greater than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, so employees in Hawaii are entitled to be paid the higher state minimum wage. The Hawaii minimum wage is set to increase to $14.00 per hour on January 1, 2024, $16.00 per hour on January 1, 2026, and $18.00 per hour on January 1, 2028.
There are some exceptions to the Hawaii minimum wage law. For example, tipped employees may be paid a lower wage, as long as they receive enough tips to bring their total earnings up to the minimum wage. Additionally, some employees, such as those who are under 18 years old, may be paid a lower minimum wage.
If you are an employee in Hawaii and you believe that you are not being paid the minimum wage, you can file a complaint with the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.
The average wage in Hawaii is $26.97 per hour. The median wage is $25.84 per hour. Wages vary depending on the occupation, industry, experience, and education level.
For example, the median wage for office and administrative support occupations is $21.75 per hour, while the median for management occupations is $46.95 per hour.
The median wage for accommodation and food services workers is $19.17 per hour, while the median wage for workers in the information industry is $37.50 per hour.
The living wage in Hawaii is $17.90 per hour for a single adult with no children. The living wage differs depending on the number and ages of family members.
For example, the living wage for a single adult with one child is $32.73 per hour, while the living wage for a single adult with two children is $38.55 per hour.
It's important to remember that the Hourly Wage Index data above reflects gross wages, or the amount of money an employee earns before accounting for payroll deductions like taxes, benefits, or wage garnishments. Due to variability in tax rates across locations, slightly lower gross wages in a certain location might result in higher take home pay, or vice versa.
This question is a difficult one to answer, as a "good hourly wage" is highly subjective according to experience, work responsibilities, cost of living, and other factors. We recommend using Hourly Wage Index data as a starting point. Once you have established a baseline for certain positions, do further research into similar businesses in your area.
Lastly, consider surveying your employees. They're the best resource to help you know what is a good hourly wage, what competitive pay looks like in your location, and how competitive wages change in your industry over time.
We know that getting applicants to pay attention to your business can be extremely challenging, and that offering competitive pay is a huge part of that. Wages aren’t everything, however! Applicant experience is another important factor that can help set you apart from your competition. A few examples include: