isworthit

Is Truck Driving a Good Career in Hawaii?

Hawaii · 2026 BLS salary data

Truck Driving pay in Hawaii

The median wage is $59,820/yr — 2% above the national median. Among U.S. states, Hawaiiranks #21 of 51 states by median pay.

The numbers in Hawaii

Real BLS state-level figures for Truck Driving.

Median salary
$59,820/yr
Pay range (25th–75th)
$52,520 – $64,910
National median
$58,640/yr
Employed in Hawaii
4,070

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS), state estimates, May 2025 release.

What that pay is really worth in Hawaii

Salary alone can mislead — Hawaii costs 10% more than the U.S. average. Here's the median adjusted for local prices (real purchasing power).

Cost of living (US=100)
110
Nominal median
$59,820
Adjusted for cost of living
≈ $54,382
State income tax
Up to 11%

Hawaii's high pay is offset by cost of living — adjusted for prices it ranks #50 of 51, down from #21 on raw salary.

Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, US=100), 2024. Adjusted pay = nominal median ÷ (RPP/100) — purchasing power vs the U.S. average. State income tax = top marginal rate on wage income (Tax Foundation, 2025); your effective rate is lower and depends on income and deductions.

The verdict, pros, and cons below apply to Truck Driving nationally — Hawaii pay is 2% above the national median. See the full Truck Driving career guide →

The verdict

Yes for fast, debt-light entry into steady work — a CDL gets you earning in weeks, and demand is stable. The cost is long stretches away from home and a hard lifestyle, plus long-term automation questions.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Fast, cheap entry via CDL (weeks)
  • Steady, essential demand
  • Many companies pay for training
  • Solitary work suits some personalities
  • Owner-operator path offers higher upside

Cons

  • Long hours and time away from home (OTR)
  • Sedentary lifestyle with health impacts
  • High industry turnover
  • Long-term automation uncertainty
  • Regulated hours and strict logging

Who it's for

✓ A good fit if…

  • People who want fast entry and steady work
  • Those comfortable with solitude and travel
  • Anyone eyeing an owner-operator business

✗ Probably not if…

  • People who need to be home every night
  • Those seeking active, social workdays

What people are actually asking

Real Reddit discussions on whether Truck Driving is worth it — titles link to the original threads.