Police Officer Salary

Kahului vs Pearl City: Police Officer Salary (2026)

Compare police officer salaries between Kahului, HI and Pearl City, HI. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Kahului, HI
$86,354
$41.51/hr
Pearl City, HI
$90,944
$43.73/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricKahului, HIPearl City, HI
Median Salary$86,354$90,944
Hourly Rate$41.51$43.73
Entry Level (P10)$85,447$54,747
25th Percentile$86,354$72,215
75th Percentile$103,544$116,408
Top Earner (P90)$103,544$135,719
Total Employed2708
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Kahului ($86,354) and Pearl City ($90,944) police officer salaries.KahuluiPearl CityMedian Salary$86,354$90,944Entry Level (P10)$85,447$54,747Top Earner (P90)$103,544$135,719US Median $78,542

Verdict

Pearl City, HI offers better overall compensation for police officers, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Kahului.

The salary gap between Kahului and Pearl City is $4,590 (5.32%). Pearl City's median is +15.79% compared to the US national median of $78,542.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Kahului spans $18,097,Pearl City spans $80,972. Pearl City has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced police officers.

Kahului
P10 (Entry)$85,447
P25$86,354
Median$86,354
P75$103,544
P90 (Top)$103,544
Pearl City
P10 (Entry)$54,747
P25$72,215
Median$90,944
P75$116,408
P90 (Top)$135,719

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Kahului ($78,939 effective) pays 3.55% more than Pearl City ($76,231 effective).

Kahului
Nominal: $86,354
CoL Index: 109.393
Adjusted: $78,939
Pearl City
Nominal: $90,944
CoL Index: 119.3
Adjusted: $76,231

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 (270 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $78,939)
  • You prefer the Hawaii area and lifestyle

Choose Pearl City if…

  • Higher median salary ($90,944/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($135,719)
  • You prefer the Hawaii area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, police officer salaries in Kahului grew 12.1% from 2019 to 2025, compared to -2.3% growth in Pearl City over the same period.

Kahului, HI

+12.1%

$74,720 (2019) → $83,790 (2025)

Pearl City, HI

+-2.3%

$90,317 (2024) → $88,244 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays police officers more: Kahului or Pearl City?

Pearl City has a higher median police officer salary at $90,944/year, compared to Kahului at $86,354/year — a difference of $4,590 (5.32%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Kahului and Pearl City?

Kahului police officers earn $41.51/hr while Pearl City hygienists earn $43.73/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Kahului to Pearl City as a police officer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Kahului and Pearl City. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Kahului = $78,939, Pearl City = $76,231), job availability (270 vs 8 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level police officers earn in Kahului vs Pearl City?

Entry-level (10th percentile) police officers earn $85,447 in Kahului and $54,747 in Pearl City. The Kahului area offers higher starting salaries.
JL

Written by Jordan Lee, BA Criminal Justice

Career Analyst

Jordan Lee has over 10 years of experience in law enforcement. They specialize in community policing strategies. Jordan works with a municipal police department.

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.06% 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, BA Criminal Justice, a licensed police officer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov