Convert your annual salary to hourly, daily, weekly, biweekly, and monthly pay in Hilo, and compare it to the local minimum wage and MIT living wage for 2026.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: MIT Living Wage Calculator, C2ER, U.S. Census, BLS, IRS, state and city sources
Hilo minimum wage: $16.00/hour | Living wage: $22.00/hour
Median household income in Hilo is about $65,000. The applicable minimum wage is $16.00/hour, and the MIT living wage for a single adult is about $22.00/hour. Use the comparisons below to see where a given salary lands.
| Pay Benchmark (Hilo) | Hourly | Annual (full-time) |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable minimum wage | $16.00 | $33,280 |
| MIT living wage (single adult) | $22.00 | $45,760 |
| Median household income | $31.25 | $65,000 |
| Standard full-time hours | - | 2,080 hours/year |
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.
Divide your annual salary by your total work hours per year (40 hours/week times 52 weeks is 2,080 hours). For example, a $65,000 salary in Hilo is about $31.25/hour at full time.
Median household income in Hilo is around $65,000. Because the cost-of-living index is 140 (US average = 100) and average 1-bedroom rent is $1,450/month, what counts as comfortable depends heavily on housing costs.
The applicable minimum wage in Hilo is $16.00/hour, which is about $33,280/year at full time. 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 MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates a single adult in Hawaii County needs about $22.00/hour, roughly $45,760/year, to cover basic costs without assistance.
At full time, $65,000/year is about $31.25/hour, $5,417/month gross, and $2,500 per biweekly paycheck before taxes.