Find a Job You Really Want In
When envisioning Hawaii, many think of stunning landscapes, incredible outdoor adventures, and delicious local cuisine. However, Hawaii also boasts a dynamic economy and a job market that has continued to evolve positively in recent years.
At Zippia, we analyze local economies to identify which industries are thriving. This insight helps job seekers and those considering relocating to Hawaii understand the opportunities that await them.
In this article, we explore the top five industries in Hawaii for 2026.
After analyzing the latest data, we identified the five best industries for jobs in Hawaii:
Continue reading to discover how we determined which industries excel in Hawaii’s job market.
If you’re interested in more insights, check out these articles about the Hawaii job landscape:
How We Determined the Best Industries in Hawaii for Jobs
We believe that data provides a clearer picture than subjective opinions. Thus, we undertook a comprehensive analysis of the Hawaii job market.
We focused on several key criteria to identify the best industries:
- Average Salary
- Job Availability
- Average Stress Level of Jobs in the Industry
Our data sources include the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Department of Labor. The stress level was assessed using self-reported statistics from professionals in the respective industries, ranking each from 1 to 22, with 1 being the lowest stress level.
We averaged the rankings to create a ‘Best Industry’ index, with Management emerging as the top industry in Hawaii.
For a detailed overview of the data, refer to the table below. Now, let’s explore why these industries stand out for job seekers.
Detailed List of the Best Industries in Hawaii
| Rank | Industry | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Management | $98,160 |
| 2 | Education, Training, and Library | $51,710 |
| 3 | Architecture and Engineering | $80,480 |
| 4 | Healthcare Practitioners and Technical | $90,330 |
| 5 | Life, Physical, and Social Science | $68,540 |
| 6 | Legal | $83,340 |
| 7 | Community and Social Service | $50,880 |
| 8 | Construction and Extraction | $65,140 |
| 9 | Computer and Mathematical | $77,990 |
| 10 | Office and Administrative Support | $38,620 |
| 11 | Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media | $50,290 |
| 12 | Business and Financial Operations | $65,610 |
| 13 | Protective Service | $46,460 |
| 14 | Food Preparation and Serving Related | $30,750 |
| 15 | Installation, Maintenance, and Repair | $53,250 |
| 16 | Transportation | $44,830 |
| 17 | Production and Manufacturing | $39,570 |
| 18 | Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance | $32,960 |
| 19 | Personal Care and Service | $29,850 |
| 20 | Healthcare Support | $34,170 |
| 21 | Sales | $35,820 |
| 22 | Farming, Fishing, and Forestry | $34,520 |
Summary of the Best Industries in Hawaii
In conclusion, Management stands out as the top industry in Hawaii for job seekers in 2026. Conversely, the Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Industry ranks as the least favorable primarily due to lower wages and limited job opportunities.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
