HONOLULU (KHON2) — Millennials in Honolulu may love island life, but their paychecks aren’t keeping pace with other states.
According to SmartAsset’s 2025 study of 357 cities in the United States, Honolulu ranks near the bottom for Millennial earnings.
The study found the median Millennial household income in Honolulu is $82,403. That’s about 4.4% less than the city’s overall median of $86,169.
That gap places Hawaiʻi’s capital city at No. 341 on the list of 357 cities across the U.S. It shows that younger workers here earn less than the typical local household.
The findings from the study contrast sharply with high-performing cities like Jersey City, New Jersey, where Millennials earn 42% more than the overall median.
In several California and Massachusetts cities, the Millennial generation is also far ahead with incomes surpassing $140,000.
Nationally, Millennials earn an average of 8.8% more than the median household in their respective cities.
Researchers from the study said this “earnings premium” depends on how local job markets align with workers’ skills. In some areas, such as Sunnyvale, California, Millennials are making more than $230,000 a year and benefiting from strong tech industries.
For Honolulu’s Millennials, however, the study found the numbers point to a tougher reality. The Millennial generation tends to be in their prime working years as they raise young families.
Yet, the data show they are not keeping pace with older households in Honolulu. High living costs, limited industry diversity and a reliance on tourism seem to play a role in shaping this economic imbalance, according to the study.
You can click here to access the full study.
In the islands, the aloha spirit may be abundant; but for Millennials, the earnings premium is not.