Med Lab Scientist Salary

Kahului vs Urban Honolulu: Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist Salary (2026)

Compare medical and clinical laboratory technologist salaries between Kahului, HI and Urban Honolulu, HI. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Kahului, HI
$70,318
$33.81/hr
Urban Honolulu, HI
$72,108
$34.66/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricKahului, HIUrban Honolulu, HI
Median Salary$70,318$72,108
Hourly Rate$33.81$34.66
Entry Level (P10)$47,839$52,951
25th Percentile$59,647$57,451
75th Percentile$91,671$90,851
Top Earner (P90)$105,924$111,407
Total Employed70920
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Kahului ($70,318) and Urban Honolulu ($72,108) medical and clinical laboratory technologist salaries.KahuluiUrban HonoluluMedian Salary$70,318$72,108Entry Level (P10)$47,839$52,951Top Earner (P90)$105,924$111,407US Median $68,734

Verdict

Urban Honolulu, HI offers better overall compensation for medical and clinical laboratory technologists, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Kahului.

The salary gap between Kahului and Urban Honolulu is $1,790 (2.55%). Urban Honolulu's median is +4.91% compared to the US national median of $68,734.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Kahului spans $58,085,Urban Honolulu spans $58,456. Urban Honolulu has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced medical and clinical laboratory technologists.

Kahului
P10 (Entry)$47,839
P25$59,647
Median$70,318
P75$91,671
P90 (Top)$105,924
Urban Honolulu
P10 (Entry)$52,951
P25$57,451
Median$72,108
P75$90,851
P90 (Top)$111,407

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Urban Honolulu ($64,985 effective) pays 1.10% more than Kahului ($64,280 effective).

Kahului
Nominal: $70,318
CoL Index: 109.393
Adjusted: $64,280
Urban Honolulu
Nominal: $72,108
CoL Index: 110.961
Adjusted: $64,985

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Kahului if…

  • You prefer the Hawaii area and lifestyle

Choose Urban Honolulu if…

  • Higher median salary ($72,108/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($111,407)
  • Larger job market (920 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $64,985)
  • You prefer the Hawaii area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, medical and clinical laboratory technologist salaries in Kahului grew 20.0% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 19.7% growth in Urban Honolulu over the same period.

Kahului, HI

+20.0%

$56,890 (2019) → $68,243 (2025)

Urban Honolulu, HI

+19.7%

$58,470 (2019) → $69,981 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays medical and clinical laboratory technologists more: Kahului or Urban Honolulu?

Urban Honolulu has a higher median medical and clinical laboratory technologist salary at $72,108/year, compared to Kahului at $70,318/year — a difference of $1,790 (2.55%).

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

Kahului medical and clinical laboratory technologists earn $33.81/hr while Urban Honolulu hygienists earn $34.66/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Kahului to Urban Honolulu as a medical and clinical laboratory technologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Kahului and Urban Honolulu. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Kahului = $64,280, Urban Honolulu = $64,985), job availability (70 vs 920 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level medical and clinical laboratory technologists earn in Kahului vs Urban Honolulu?

Entry-level (10th percentile) medical and clinical laboratory technologists earn $47,839 in Kahului and $52,951 in Urban Honolulu. The Urban Honolulu area offers higher starting salaries.
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Written by Alexandra Choi, MS, MT(ASCP)

Career Analyst

Alexandra has 10 years of experience in clinical laboratory science. She specializes in molecular diagnostics. She works at a large metropolitan hospital.

Clinically reviewed by Jerome Patel, BS, MT(ASCP)Data verified by Fatima Hussain, MS, CLS

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.04% 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 Alexandra Choi, MS, MT(ASCP), a licensed medical and clinical laboratory technologist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov