Pay by state / Hawaii
HI · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental pay in Hawaii
Hawaii's 830 dental hygienists earned a mean of $93,660 in May 2025, 5% below the US mean and number 26 of 50 states. Salaried general dentists averaged $227,370 (+19% against the US); orthodontists' pay is not published for Hawaii. Dental assistants earned $43,180.
- 1Dental hygienists $93,660
- 2General dentists $227,370
- 3Orthodontists not published
- 4Dental assistants $43,180
| Occupation | Employed | Per 1,000 jobs | HI mean | US mean | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orthodontists | – | – | – | $259,400 | – |
| General dentists | 830 | 1.33 | $227,370 | $191,350 | +19% |
| Dental hygienists | 830 | 1.318 | $93,660 | $98,990 | -5% |
| Dental assistants | 1,960 | 3.119 | $43,180 | $50,200 | -14% |
How Hawaii ranks
- Orthodontists: no row at all in the BLS May 2025 state file for Hawaii.
- General dentists: number 4 of 47 published states for mean pay ($227,370, median $167,820), with 1.33 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental hygienists: number 26 of 50 published states for mean pay ($93,660, median $97,570), with 1.318 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental assistants: number 44 of 50 published states for mean pay ($43,180, median $44,720), with 3.119 per 1,000 jobs.
Hawaii and the Pacific division
Among the 5 Pacific jurisdictions with published figures, Hawaii ranks 5 for dental hygienists' pay; half of its hygienists earn more than $97,570 and half less. The Census Bureau groups these states as a division, which makes a fairer comparison than the national figure when living costs differ by region.
| Pacific | Hygienists | Dentists | Assistants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $122,560 | $215,360 | $55,220 |
| California | $128,110 | $170,690 | $54,710 |
| Hawaii | $93,660 | $227,370 | $43,180 |
| Oregon | $120,470 | $240,170 | $60,110 |
| Washington | $131,530 | $195,810 | $56,680 |
Staffing in Hawaii
There are 1 salaried hygienists for every salaried general dentist in Hawaii, fewer than the national ratio of about 1.8. A practice here employing one hygienist and one assistant at the state's mean wages pays $136,840 a year in their salaries alone, before benefits. Owners of practices are not counted in these BLS figures, so dentist and orthodontist numbers understate how many work in Hawaii.
What it means for your braces
BLS publishes no orthodontist wage for Hawaii. Wages are one input to what practices charge, alongside rent, equipment and competition, so they explain only part of why quotes differ. Your quote is what matters: put it, your insurance's orthodontic benefit and your FSA or HSA plans into the calculator.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (state and national files). “–” = not published by BLS. Checked 2026-10-24. Methodology.