How to Become a Mechanical Engineer in Hawaii: Salary & Requirements (2026)

Q: "How much does a mechanical engineer make in Hawaii?"

"The median annual wage for mechanical engineers in Hawaii is $98,740 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 5% below the national median of $104,110."

Q: "How do I become a mechanical engineer in Hawaii?"

"The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited bachelor's in mechanical engineering - with licensing administered at the state level: PE license for roles approving designs; optional otherwise. See the steps below."

Q: "How many mechanical engineers work in Hawaii?"

"BLS counts about 530 mechanical engineers employed in Hawaii (BLS OEWS, May 2025)."

Updated July 23, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Hawaii mechanical engineers earn a median annual wage of $98,740 ($47.47/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 530 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -5.2% below the national median of $104,110 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $98,740 ($47.47/hr)
25th percentile: $85,820 per year
75th percentile: $119,700 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $141,500 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $66,110 per year
Workers employed in Hawaii: 530
Versus national median: -5.2% below the U.S. median of $104,110
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.44 - this occupation is less concentrated in Hawaii than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed July 23, 2026.

Quick answer: The median mechanical engineer salary in Hawaii is $98,740 per year - 5% below the national median of $104,110 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: ABET-accredited bachelor’s in mechanical engineering.

Mechanical Engineer Salary in Hawaii

Wage level	Annual salary
Hawaii entry level (10th percentile)	$66,110
Hawaii 25th-75th percentile	$85,820 - $119,700
Hawaii median	$98,740
Hawaii top earners (90th percentile)	$141,500
U.S. median	$104,110

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 530.

The Hawaii Job Market: Mechanical Engineer

Metric	Value
Employed in Hawaii	530
Jobs per 1,000 in the state	0.84
Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient)	0.44
Mean annual wage in Hawaii	$103,410

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.44, Hawaii employs mechanical engineers at a lower concentration than the national average; expect fewer openings per capita and weigh relocation or remote-friendly specialties.

Requirements in Hawaii

The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in mechanical engineering - while licensing runs through Hawaii’s own boards: PE license for roles approving designs; optional otherwise. Verify current requirements with the Hawaii licensing authority before enrolling, as details change. The step-by-step path (degree, exams, first role, advancement) is covered in the national guide: How to Become a Mechanical Engineer.

Salary Nationwide

Annual Wage by Percentile - Mechanical Engineers

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025

Mechanical Engineers annual wage percentiles
Percentile	Annual wage
10th	$73,990
25th	$84,130
50th (median)	$104,110
75th	$132,590
90th	$164,340

Job Outlook

Projected employment growth, Mechanical Engineers, 2024-2034

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034

Mechanical Engineers employment projection 2024 to 2034
Year	Employment
2024	293,100
2034 projected	319,600
Percent change	+9.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a mechanical engineer make in Hawaii?

The median annual wage for mechanical engineers in Hawaii is $98,740 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 5% below the national median of $104,110.

How do I become a mechanical engineer in Hawaii?

The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited bachelor's in mechanical engineering - with licensing administered at the state level: PE license for roles approving designs; optional otherwise. See the steps below.

How many mechanical engineers work in Hawaii?

BLS counts about 530 mechanical engineers employed in Hawaii (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Mechanical Engineer in Nearby States

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141), Hawaii and national
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)