Dental Hygienist Pay

Kahului vs Pearl City: Dental Hygienist Salary (2026)

Compare dental hygienist salaries between Kahului, HI and Pearl City, HI. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Kahului, HI
$109,222
$52.51/hr
Pearl City, HI
$119,201
$57.31/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricKahului, HIPearl City, HI
Median Salary$109,222$119,201
Hourly Rate$52.51$57.31
Entry Level (P10)$101,529$88,948
25th Percentile$104,153$103,598
75th Percentile$111,027$132,307
Top Earner (P90)$126,809$151,797
Total Employed1008
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Kahului ($109,222) and Pearl City ($119,201) dental hygienist salaries.KahuluiPearl CityMedian Salary$109,222$119,201Entry Level (P10)$101,529$88,948Top Earner (P90)$126,809$151,797US Median $102,946

Verdict

Pearl City, HI offers better overall compensation for dental hygienists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Kahului.

The salary gap between Kahului and Pearl City is $9,979 (9.14%). Pearl City's median is +15.79% compared to the US national median of $102,946.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Kahului spans $25,280,Pearl City spans $62,849. Pearl City has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced dental hygienists.

Kahului
P10 (Entry)$101,529
P25$104,153
Median$109,222
P75$111,027
P90 (Top)$126,809
Pearl City
P10 (Entry)$88,948
P25$103,598
Median$119,201
P75$132,307
P90 (Top)$151,797

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Pearl City ($99,917 effective) pays 0.07% more than Kahului ($99,844 effective).

Kahului
Nominal: $109,222
CoL Index: 109.393
Adjusted: $99,844
Pearl City
Nominal: $119,201
CoL Index: 119.3
Adjusted: $99,917

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Kahului if…

  • Larger job market (100 employed)
  • You prefer the Hawaii area and lifestyle

Choose Pearl City if…

  • Higher median salary ($119,201/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($151,797)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $99,917)
  • You prefer the Hawaii area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, dental hygienist salaries in Kahului grew 30.0% from 2020 to 2025, compared to 38.1% growth in Pearl City over the same period.

Kahului, HI

+30.0%

$80,080 (2020) → $104,080 (2025)

Pearl City, HI

+38.1%

$82,236 (2020) → $113,590 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays dental hygienists more: Kahului or Pearl City?

Pearl City has a higher median dental hygienist salary at $119,201/year, compared to Kahului at $109,222/year — a difference of $9,979 (9.14%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Kahului and Pearl City?

Kahului dental hygienists earn $52.51/hr while Pearl City hygienists earn $57.31/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Kahului to Pearl City as a dental hygienist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Kahului and Pearl City. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Kahului = $99,844, Pearl City = $99,917), job availability (100 vs 8 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level dental hygienists earn in Kahului vs Pearl City?

Entry-level (10th percentile) dental hygienists earn $101,529 in Kahului and $88,948 in Pearl City. The Kahului area offers higher starting salaries.
SCSarah Chen

Written by Sarah Chen, RDH, BSDH

Dental Career Analyst

Sarah Chen is a registered dental hygienist with over 12 years of clinical experience. She specializes in salary benchmarking and career strategy, helping dental professionals make data-driven career decisions using official BLS statistics.

Clinically reviewed by Amanda Doucette, RDHData verified by David Oh

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 4.94% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Sarah Chen, RDH, BSDH, a licensed dental hygienist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov