The minimum wage in Hilo is $16.00/hour in 2026. See how it compares to the MIT living wage of $22.00/hour and local cost of living.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: MIT Living Wage Calculator, C2ER, U.S. Census, BLS, IRS, state and city sources
Calculate annual, monthly, and weekly income at any hourly wage in Hilo.
The minimum wage in Hilo is the Hawaii statewide minimum of $16.00/hour. Hilo does not set a separate local minimum wage, so the Hawaii statewide minimum of $16.00/hour for 2026 applies to most employers. The bigger question for most workers is how that compares to what it actually costs to live in Hilo. With average 1-bedroom rent near $1,450/month and a cost-of-living index of 140 (US average = 100), the gap between the minimum wage and a true living wage is significant.
| Benchmark (Hilo, 2026) | Hourly | Annual (full-time) |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable minimum wage | $16.00 | $33,280 |
| MIT living wage (single adult) | $22.00 | $45,760 |
| MIT living wage (family of four, one earner) | $44.50 | $92,560 |
| Federal minimum wage | $7.25 | $15,080 |
| Average rent (1-bedroom, annual) | - | $17,400 |
Living wage figures: MIT Living Wage Calculator for Hawaii County. Minimum wage reflects the rate applicable to most private employers in Hilo.
Hilo is the largest community on the Big Island of Hawaii and its commercial and government center, the most affordable of Hawaii's major towns, with an economy built on government, the University of Hawaii at Hilo, agriculture, astronomy atop Mauna Kea, and tourism.
| Local Metric | Hilo (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metro population | 45,000 |
| County / jurisdiction | Hawaii County |
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 140 |
| MIT living wage, single adult | $22.00/hour |
| MIT living wage, one earner supporting a family of four | $44.50/hour |
| Applicable minimum wage | $16.00/hour |
| Average rent, 1-bedroom | $1,450/month |
| Average rent, 2-bedroom | $1,800/month |
| Median home price | $450,000 |
| Median household income | $65,000/year |
| Combined General Excise Tax (GET) rate | 4.5% |
| Effective property tax rate | 0.3% of value/year |
Local figures are 2026 estimates compiled from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, the C2ER Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census and Zillow housing data, and city and county sources. Verify current figures before relying on them.
The minimum wage in Hilo is the Hawaii statewide minimum of $16.00/hour. Hilo does not set a separate local minimum wage, so the Hawaii statewide minimum of $16.00/hour for 2026 applies to most employers. A full-time worker (40 hours/week, 52 weeks) earns about $33,280 per year gross before taxes at that rate.
Not for a single adult. The MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates a single adult in Hawaii County needs about $22.00/hour (roughly $45,760/year) to cover basic costs. That is $6.00/hour above the applicable minimum wage, and a one-earner family of four needs closer to $44.50/hour.
At $16.00/hour, full-time work (2,080 hours/year) produces about $33,280 gross. Part-time at 30 hours/week is roughly $24,960/year. Average 1-bedroom rent in Hilo is about $1,450/month, or $17,400/year.
Hilo does not set a separate local minimum wage, so the Hawaii statewide minimum of $16.00/hour for 2026 applies to most employers.
The federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour and has not changed since 2009. Hawaii has set a state minimum wage of $16.00/hour for 2026, well above the federal floor, and that rate applies in Hilo.