Kahului-Wailuku, HI · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Food Preparation Worker Salary in Kahului-Wailuku, HI

In the Kahului-Wailuku, HI metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median annual wage of $38,000 ($18.27/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $29,800/year and the 90th was $57,400/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Hawaii tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $31,524 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 109.4 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$38,000$18.27 per hour · $3,167 monthly
10th Percentile$29,800$14.33/hr base
25th Percentile$33,100$15.91/hr base
75th Percentile$46,700$22.45/hr base
90th Percentile$57,400$27.60/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$38,000
$15,000$80,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$38,000
Net 83%
Fed 6%
HI 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$31,524After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,627Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,212Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate17%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,380 / yr
Hawaii state income tax$1,189 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,907 / yr

Food Preparation Workers Wage Percentiles in Kahului-Wailuku, HI

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Food Preparation Workers in the Kahului-Wailuku, HI Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (HI)
10th Percentile$14.33/hr$2,483$29,800$25,479
25th Percentile$15.91/hr$2,758$33,100$27,919
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$18.27/hr$3,167$38,000$31,524
75th Percentile$22.45/hr$3,892$46,700$37,916
90th Percentile$27.60/hr$4,783$57,400$45,742

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Kahului-Wailuku, HI

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$38,000 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$97,109Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index109.49.4% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio39.1%of area median income

Compare food preparation workers salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Hawaii:

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Preparation Workers Pay in Kahului-Wailuku, HI

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Kahului-Wailuku, HI?

The official BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in Kahului-Wailuku, HI is $38,000, which equates to approximately $3,167 per month or $18.27 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Kahului-Wailuku, HI?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Kahului-Wailuku, HI is $18.27 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $14.33/hour and one in ten earned more than $27.60/hour.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Kahului-Wailuku, HI?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Kahului-Wailuku, HI span from $29,800 at the 10th percentile to $33,100 at the 25th, $46,700 at the 75th, and $57,400 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Kahului-Wailuku, HI?

On a median gross salary of $38,000, an estimated $31,524 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,212 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Hawaii in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $6,476 (an effective rate of 17%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Kahului-Wailuku, HI?

On the median annual salary of $38,000, gross monthly income is $3,167. After federal, FICA, and Hawaii state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,627 per month (or $1,212 every two weeks).

Is $38,000 a good salary in Kahului-Wailuku, HI?

At $38,000, the median salary for food preparation workers is 39.1% of the Kahului-Wailuku, HI median household income ($97,109). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 109.4, making regional consumer goods and services 9.4% more expensive than the U.S. average.