The Salary Index
Salary data is based on the Urban Honolulu, HI metropolitan area and applied to Honolulu using local cost-of-living adjustments.

Orderlies Salaries in Honolulu, HI

Average Base Pay

$45,740/yr

16% above national average

Monthly

$3,812

Hourly

$22

Cost Index

145

Orderlies in Honolulu, HI earn an average of $45,740 per year, with most salaries falling between $36,592 and $54,888 depending on experience, employer, and specialization. At 16% above the national average, Honolulu ranks among the higher-paying markets for this role, in part reflecting a local cost of living index of 145. For professionals evaluating a move or negotiating an offer, the headline salary is only part of the picture—what matters most is how far that income actually goes once taxes, rent, and daily expenses are factored in. The sections below break that down in full for Honolulu.

Salary Range

The chart below shows the full compensation spectrum for this role, from entry-level to senior positions. The highlighted center bars represent the 25th–75th percentile band where most professionals are paid.

$34K
Low
$46K
Median
$57K
High
25th percentile: $39K75th percentile: $53K

About Orderlies

Medical Assistants perform both clinical and administrative tasks in physician offices, outpatient clinics, and other ambulatory care settings, supporting the delivery of patient care and ensuring that clinical practices run smoothly. Clinical duties include taking vital signs, documenting chief complaints and medication lists, preparing examination rooms, assisting physicians during examinations, administering injections and vaccinations, performing phlebotomy and point-of-care laboratory tests, and processing laboratory specimens. Administrative duties include scheduling appointments, verifying insurance eligibility, registering patients, managing medical records, processing referrals, and handling prior authorizations. Medical assistants are often the first care team member a patient encounters during a visit, making interpersonal communication and professionalism important in shaping the patient experience. In some states, MAs perform expanded tasks such as applying dressings, removing sutures, or performing EKGs. Certification through AAMA (CMA) or AMT (RMA) demonstrates competency and is preferred or required by many employers.

What Orderlies Do

  • Take and document patient vital signs, medical history, and medications
  • Prepare examination rooms and ensure equipment is clean and stocked
  • Assist physicians during patient examinations and procedures
  • Administer injections, vaccinations, and perform phlebotomy
  • Perform point-of-care tests such as urinalysis, glucose, and strep screens
  • Handle patient check-in, scheduling, and insurance verification
  • Process referrals, prior authorizations, and prescription refill requests
  • Maintain accurate electronic health records

Key Skills & Qualifications

  • Vital sign measurement and documentation
  • Phlebotomy and specimen processing
  • Medication administration and vaccine handling
  • EHR systems (Epic, Athenahealth, eClinicalWorks)
  • Medical terminology and documentation
  • Insurance verification and prior authorization processes
  • CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT) certification
  • Professional patient communication

Career Path

  1. Medical Assistant Student/Extern
  2. Medical Assistant
  3. Lead Medical Assistant
  4. Office Manager (clinical)
  5. Nursing or Healthcare Administration (with further education)

Orderlies Market in Honolulu, HI

Salary Competitiveness

Honolulu is one of the stronger-paying markets for Orderlies, with local salaries running approximately 16% above the national median. This premium typically reflects a combination of higher employer competition, concentrated industry presence, and elevated cost expectations built into local compensation norms.

Cost of Living Impact

The cost of living in Honolulu is well above the national average, and essential monthly expenses consume roughly 140% of take-home pay for this role. That compression means a higher gross salary buys less financial breathing room than the headline number suggests—particularly for housing, which tends to dominate the budget in high-cost markets.

Effective Purchasing Power

Despite a competitive gross salary, a Orderlies earning $45,740 in Honolulu operates in a tight purchasing-power band once taxes and local cost of living are applied. Careful planning around housing, transportation, and discretionary spending is essential to avoid running negative disposable income month to month.

vs. National Avg

+16%

Cost Pressure

140%

Purchasing Power

Tight

Take-Home Pay Calculator

Enter any gross salary to see how federal and state taxes affect your actual take-home pay, broken down by year, month, and week. Results use an estimated effective tax rate of 27% based on this location and income level.

$
Take-home (73%)Taxes (27%)

Annual Net

$33,390

Monthly

$2,783

Weekly

$642

Eff. Tax Rate

27%

A gross salary of $45,740 for a Orderlies in Honolulu translates to roughly $2,783 in monthly take-home pay after estimated federal and state taxes. Set against monthly living costs of $3,885—covering housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare—that leaves approximately $-1,102 per month in disposable income. That margin, not the gross number, is what determines whether you can comfortably cover rent, build savings, and afford discretionary spending in Honolulu's current market.

How far does this salary go in Honolulu?

Cost of Living in Honolulu

Estimated monthly expenses for a single person in Honolulu, benchmarked against US regional price indices for housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare.

Cost Index

145

High — US average is 100. Based on a single person (1-bed apartment).

🏠Housing / Rent$2,350/mo
🍔Food & Groceries$710/mo
🚗Transportation$155/mo
💡Utilities$275/mo
🏥Healthcare$395/mo
Monthly$3,885
Annual$46,620

Financial Reality Check

This section compares estimated monthly take-home pay against typical living costs in Honolulu to show your real disposable income—the amount remaining after essential bills are paid each month.

Monthly Take-Home

$2,783

Living Costs

$3,885

Disposable

$-1,102

Cost Index

145

Lifestyle

Tight

With a monthly take-home of $2,783, your estimated living costs in Honolulu are $3,885 ($46,620/yr). This leaves $-1,102 per month in disposable income, indicating a tight standard of living. Honolulu's cost of living is 45% above the national average.

Overall, a Orderlies earning $45,740 in Honolulu falls into a tight lifestyle tier and will need to budget carefully—essential costs consume a significant share of take-home pay, leaving limited room for savings or emergencies. With a cost index of 145, Honolulu is 45% more expensive than the national average, which compresses real purchasing power. Regardless of tier, prioritizing retirement contributions, an emergency fund of three to six months' expenses, and incremental debt reduction will yield the greatest long-term financial stability—especially as living costs in Honolulu continue to evolve.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Orderlies · Honolulu, HI16% above avg

Gross Salary

$45,740/yr

Take-home

$2,783/mo

Disposable

$-1,102/mo

Lifestyle

Tight

Source: thesalaryindex.com · BLS data

Honolulu City Overview

COL index, rent benchmarks, top jobs, and affordability score.

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Salary estimates are based on BLS metro data and adjusted using cost-of-living indices.