Where Data Tells the Story
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The visualization above shows us how much regular workers at private companies make per hour in each part of the United States. It is based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of July 2026.
Hawaii averages $40.20 per hour in private-sector earnings. That places the state at the top.
However, higher-paying places also usually have much higher rents, gas prices, and food costs.
Higher pay doesn’t mean people are wealthier there, because a $40-an-hour job in an expensive city might buy less than a $28-an-hour job in a small town.
For example, Hawaii consistently ranks among the most expensive states in the country, with housing, food, and utilities driven up by its island-based dependence on imports.
A $40.20 hourly wage sounds competitive against the national range but buys significantly less in Honolulu than $33 does in Iowa or $32 in Nebraska.