Bartender Salary in Kahului, HI
Bartenders in the Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro area earn a median $86,280 a year — 151% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,501 take-home, or $5,375 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Kahului, HI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,152
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,349
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,251
- Hawaii income tax$5,027
- Take-home pay$64,501
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 7.60% state
Bartender pay by experience in Kahului, HI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,180 | $18.36 | $31,411 | $2,618 |
| 25th percentile | $61,670 | $29.65 | $48,575 | $4,048 |
| Median (50th) | $86,280 | $41.48 | $64,501 | $5,375 |
| 75th percentile | $105,150 | $50.55 | $76,342 | $6,362 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,230 | $63.09 | $92,516 | $7,710 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Hawaii resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $86,280 buys in Kahului, HI
Prices in Kahului, HI are 9.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.19× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $64,501 take-home pay has the buying power of $58,962 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Kahului, HI has 2.2× the national concentration of bartender jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Kahului, HI ranks #1 of 237 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $86,280 | $64,501 | $58,962 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $75,340 | $57,636 | $51,943 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $55,820 | $47,031 | $46,994 |
| 4 | Bellingham, WA | $56,110 | $47,264 | $45,739 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $58,180 | $48,928 | $44,026 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $61,220 | $48,661 | $43,230 |
| 7 | Bremerton, WA | $53,810 | $45,416 | $43,005 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $54,170 | $43,231 | $42,442 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 237 metros →
Bartender salaries elsewhere in Hawaii
- Urban Honolulu, HI — $75,340
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Kahului, HI?
The median bartender salary in the Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro area is $86,280 a year, or about $41.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,670 and $105,150.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Kahului, HI?
On the median $86,280 salary, a single filer living in Hawaii takes home about $64,501 a year ($5,375 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,027 in Hawaii taxes in 2026.
Is Kahului, HI a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 151% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 9.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $58,962 would in a typical U.S. city. Kahului, HI ranks #1 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Kahului, HI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Kahului, HI is $2,000 a month ($2,624 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Kahului, HI
- Waiter and Waitress — $82,550
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $61,230
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $56,600
- Cooks, Restaurant — $49,560
- Food Preparation Worker — $46,680
- Dishwasher — $45,930
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $45,240
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $37,840