Dental Hygienist Pay

Kahului vs Kaneohe: Dental Hygienist Salary (2026)

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

Kahului, HI
$109,222
$52.51/hr
Kaneohe, HI
$122,041
$58.67/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricKahului, HIKaneohe, HI
Median Salary$109,222$122,041
Hourly Rate$52.51$58.67
Entry Level (P10)$101,529$96,381
25th Percentile$104,153$104,889
75th Percentile$111,027$131,686
Top Earner (P90)$126,809$149,219
Total Employed1005
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Kahului ($109,222) and Kaneohe ($122,041) dental hygienist salaries.KahuluiKaneoheMedian Salary$109,222$122,041Entry Level (P10)$101,529$96,381Top Earner (P90)$126,809$149,219US Median $102,946

Verdict

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

The salary gap between Kahului and Kaneohe is $12,819 (11.74%). Kaneohe's median is +18.55% 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,Kaneohe spans $52,838. Kaneohe 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
Kaneohe
P10 (Entry)$96,381
P25$104,889
Median$122,041
P75$131,686
P90 (Top)$149,219

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Kaneohe ($102,298 effective) pays 2.46% more than Kahului ($99,844 effective).

Kahului
Nominal: $109,222
CoL Index: 109.393
Adjusted: $99,844
Kaneohe
Nominal: $122,041
CoL Index: 119.3
Adjusted: $102,298

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 Kaneohe if…

  • Higher median salary ($122,041/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($149,219)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $102,298)
  • 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 Kaneohe over the same period.

Kahului, HI

+30.0%

$80,080 (2020) → $104,080 (2025)

Kaneohe, HI

+38.1%

$84,196 (2020) → $116,296 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays dental hygienists more: Kahului or Kaneohe?

Kaneohe has a higher median dental hygienist salary at $122,041/year, compared to Kahului at $109,222/year — a difference of $12,819 (11.74%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Kahului and Kaneohe?

Kahului dental hygienists earn $52.51/hr while Kaneohe hygienists earn $58.67/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Kahului to Kaneohe as a dental hygienist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Kahului and Kaneohe. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Kahului = $99,844, Kaneohe = $102,298), job availability (100 vs 5 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

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

Entry-level (10th percentile) dental hygienists earn $101,529 in Kahului and $96,381 in Kaneohe. 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