Med Lab Scientist Salary

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

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

Urban Honolulu, HI
$72,108
$34.66/hr
Waipahu, HI
$85,172
$40.95/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricUrban Honolulu, HIWaipahu, HI
Median Salary$72,108$85,172
Hourly Rate$34.66$40.95
Entry Level (P10)$52,951$52,533
25th Percentile$57,451$63,534
75th Percentile$90,851$106,280
Top Earner (P90)$111,407$132,016
Total Employed9209
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Urban Honolulu ($72,108) and Waipahu ($85,172) medical and clinical laboratory technologist salaries.Urban HonoluluWaipahuMedian Salary$72,108$85,172Entry Level (P10)$52,951$52,533Top Earner (P90)$111,407$132,016US Median $68,734

Verdict

Waipahu, HI offers better overall compensation for medical and clinical laboratory technologists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Urban Honolulu.

The salary gap between Urban Honolulu and Waipahu is $13,064 (18.12%). Waipahu's median is +23.92% compared to the US national median of $68,734.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Urban Honolulu spans $58,456,Waipahu spans $79,483. Waipahu has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced medical and clinical laboratory technologists.

Urban Honolulu
P10 (Entry)$52,951
P25$57,451
Median$72,108
P75$90,851
P90 (Top)$111,407
Waipahu
P10 (Entry)$52,533
P25$63,534
Median$85,172
P75$106,280
P90 (Top)$132,016

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Waipahu ($71,393 effective) pays 9.86% more than Urban Honolulu ($64,985 effective).

Urban Honolulu
Nominal: $72,108
CoL Index: 110.961
Adjusted: $64,985
Waipahu
Nominal: $85,172
CoL Index: 119.3
Adjusted: $71,393

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Urban Honolulu if…

  • Larger job market (920 employed)
  • You prefer the Hawaii area and lifestyle

Choose Waipahu if…

  • Higher median salary ($85,172/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($132,016)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $71,393)
  • 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 Urban Honolulu grew 19.7% from 2019 to 2025, compared to -13.8% growth in Waipahu over the same period.

Urban Honolulu, HI

+19.7%

$58,470 (2019) → $69,981 (2025)

Waipahu, HI

+-13.8%

$95,859 (2024) → $82,659 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Waipahu has a higher median medical and clinical laboratory technologist salary at $85,172/year, compared to Urban Honolulu at $72,108/year — a difference of $13,064 (18.12%).

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

Urban Honolulu medical and clinical laboratory technologists earn $34.66/hr while Waipahu hygienists earn $40.95/hr (2026 est.).

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

Consider more than just salary when comparing Urban Honolulu and Waipahu. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Urban Honolulu = $64,985, Waipahu = $71,393), job availability (920 vs 9 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

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

Entry-level (10th percentile) medical and clinical laboratory technologists earn $52,951 in Urban Honolulu and $52,533 in Waipahu. 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