SLP Salary

Kahului vs Urban Honolulu: Speech-Language Pathologist Salary (2026)

Compare speech-language pathologist salaries between Kahului, HI and Urban Honolulu, HI. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Kahului, HI
$115,396
$55.48/hr
Urban Honolulu, HI
$101,806
$48.95/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricKahului, HIUrban Honolulu, HI
Median Salary$115,396$101,806
Hourly Rate$55.48$48.95
Entry Level (P10)$77,318$63,424
25th Percentile$90,610$78,013
75th Percentile$132,613$112,257
Top Earner (P90)$151,908$126,098
Total Employed5230
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Kahului ($115,396) and Urban Honolulu ($101,806) speech-language pathologist salaries.KahuluiUrban HonoluluMedian Salary$115,396$101,806Entry Level (P10)$77,318$63,424Top Earner (P90)$151,908$126,098US Median $101,775

Verdict

Kahului, HI offers better overall compensation for speech-language pathologists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Urban Honolulu.

The salary gap between Kahului and Urban Honolulu is $13,590 (13.35%). Kahului's median is +13.38% compared to the US national median of $101,775.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Kahului spans $74,590,Urban Honolulu spans $62,674. Kahului has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Kahului
P10 (Entry)$77,318
P25$90,610
Median$115,396
P75$132,613
P90 (Top)$151,908
Urban Honolulu
P10 (Entry)$63,424
P25$78,013
Median$101,806
P75$112,257
P90 (Top)$126,098

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Kahului ($96,728 effective) pays 5.43% more than Urban Honolulu ($91,749 effective).

Kahului
Nominal: $115,396
CoL Index: 119.3
Adjusted: $96,728
Urban Honolulu
Nominal: $101,806
CoL Index: 110.961
Adjusted: $91,749

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Kahului if…

  • Higher median salary ($115,396/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($151,908)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $96,728)
  • You prefer the Hawaii area and lifestyle

Choose Urban Honolulu if…

  • Larger job market (230 employed)
  • You prefer the Hawaii area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, speech-language pathologist salaries in Kahului grew 55.5% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 22.1% growth in Urban Honolulu over the same period.

Kahului, HI

+55.5%

$71,380 (2019) → $110,968 (2025)

Urban Honolulu, HI

+22.1%

$80,170 (2019) → $97,900 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays speech-language pathologists more: Kahului or Urban Honolulu?

Kahului has a higher median speech-language pathologist salary at $115,396/year, compared to Urban Honolulu at $101,806/year — a difference of $13,590 (13.35%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Kahului and Urban Honolulu?

Kahului speech-language pathologists earn $55.48/hr while Urban Honolulu hygienists earn $48.95/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Kahului to Urban Honolulu as a speech-language pathologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Kahului and Urban Honolulu. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Kahului = $96,728, Urban Honolulu = $91,749), job availability (5 vs 230 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level speech-language pathologists earn in Kahului vs Urban Honolulu?

Entry-level (10th percentile) speech-language pathologists earn $77,318 in Kahului and $63,424 in Urban Honolulu. The Kahului area offers higher starting salaries.
JL

Written by Jordan Lee, CCC-SLP

Career Analyst

Jordan has over 8 years of experience in speech-language pathology. He specializes in pediatric language disorders. He works in a community health clinic.

Clinically reviewed by Fatima Ali, CCC-SLPData verified by Miguel Torres, CCC-SLP

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.99% 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 Jordan Lee, CCC-SLP, a licensed speech-language pathologist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov