Economics Degree in Honolulu, HI — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Honolulu, HI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$79K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$121K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.7 yrs
in Honolulu
Cost of Living
121
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Honolulu, HI Overview
Honolulu, Hawaii (pop. 350,964) has 12 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 121 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,330/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Honolulu is approximately $78,650, growing to $121,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$12,186/yr
Private Tuition
$27,060/yr
Room & Board
$12,570/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,299/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
54%
Economics Salary in Honolulu (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Honolulu's cost of living index of 121 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Honolulu adjustment factor: 1.21x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Honolulu
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Honolulu tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,186 | Private avg: $27,060
Honolulu avg aid: $12,299/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$99,024
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$36,300
vs HS diploma in Honolulu
ROI Payback Period
2.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Honolulu
$929,476
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,028,500) minus total education cost ($99,024)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Honolulu
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Honolulu for Economics
University of Hawaii at Manoa
public
$12,186/yr
$48,744 total
Chaminade University of Honolulu
private
$27,060/yr
$108,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Honolulu Community College
$3,432/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Honolulu
Honolulu offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Honolulu Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Other Business Majors in Honolulu
Business Analytics
$94K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$85K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$61K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$61K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$61K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$75K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$61K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$70K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Honolulu — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Economics ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Honolulu.