What do the trades pay in Hawaii?
Median hourly pay, May 20251. Pick a trade for training, pay and the license.
Electrician
Wiring, panels and fixtures
$46.38/hrHawaii median
Plumber
Water, drain and gas lines
$37.53/hrHawaii median
HVAC tech
Heating, cooling and ductwork
$31.47/hrHawaii median
Roofer
New roofs and repairs
$28.64/hrHawaii median
General contractor
Runs the job and the crews
$49.34/hrHawaii median, construction supervisors
Is there work in Hawaii?
Construction, mining and logging jobs in Hawaii, September 2026: 40,200, down 1.0% from a year earlier.
BLS Current Employment Statistics, Sep 2026New homes permitted in Hawaii, September 2026: 283, up 112.8% from a year earlier.
Census Building Permits Survey, Sep 2026People working in these five trades in Hawaii: 10,870.
BLS OEWS, May 2025Who licenses contractors in Hawaii?
Hawaii licenses general contractors and the electrical, plumbing, HVAC and roofing trades at the state level.2
State board Contractors License Board (DCCA PVL)
- ElectricalState license
- PlumbingState license
- HVACState license
- RoofingState license
- General contractorState license
Check a Hawaii contractor
Search the license on the board's own site.
Miss a date, lose the lien
Training near you
Apprentices are hired first and paid while they learn on the job and in class. Trade school comes first and charges tuition.
Where to train and find work near you
Union locals take apprenticeship applications and send members out to union contractors. Open-shop chapters run apprenticeship classes for the people their member contractors hire.
IBEW union locals
- IBEW Local 1186Honolulu(808) 847-5341
Electrical training centers (JATCs)
- Hawaii Electricians JATC1935 Hau Street, Suite 400, Honolulu(808) 847-0629
IEC chapters (open shop)
No IEC chapter lists an office in Hawaii. Chapters cover several states; the finder shows each one's area. IEC chapter finder
UA union locals
- UA Local 675Honolulu(808) 536-5454
- UA Local 811Waianae(808) 630-8000
Training
UA apprenticeships run through a joint committee of the local and union contractors. Call the local for the next application date.
PHCC chapters
No PHCC chapter lists an office in Hawaii. PHCC chapter finder
SMART union locals
- SMART Local 293Honolulu(808) 841-5078
Sheet metal training centers
- Hawaii JATC for the Sheet Metal Industry1405 N. King Street, Suite 403, Honolulu(808) 841-6106
PHCC chapters (heating, cooling, plumbing)
No PHCC chapter lists an office in Hawaii. ACCA member contractors near you
Pipefitters and HVAC service techs also apprentice through the UA: UA locals in Hawaii.
Carpenters union locals
- Carpenters Local 745Honolulu
- Carpenters Local 746Honolulu
Training
Union carpentry apprenticeships run through the regional council's training centers. Carpenters regional council finder
Home builder associations
- Contractors Association of Kauai4231 Ahukini Rd, Lihue(808) 246-2662
- BIA of Hawaii94-487 Akoki St, Waipahu(808) 629-7507
Roofers union locals
- Roofers Local 221Honolulu
Training
Roofers locals run their apprenticeship through a joint committee with union contractors.
Contractor associations
The national trade group for roofing contractors is the National Roofing Contractors Association.
Trade schools: where to apply
- Honolulu Community College874 Dillingham Blvd, Honolulu
- Hawaii Community College1175 Manono Street, Hilo
- University of Hawaii Maui College310 W Kaahumanu Ave, Kahului
- Kauai Community College3-1901 Kaumualii Highway, LihueElectrical program
- Hawaii Pacific University1 Aloha Tower Drive, Honolulu
Sources
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Hawaii, May 2025 (bls.gov, May 2025)
- Contractors License Board (DCCA PVL) (cca.hawaii.gov)
- Hawaii lien law: HRS 507-43(a)-(b) (capitol.hawaii.gov)
- U.S. Department of Labor, apprenticeship.gov registered apprenticeship partners (apprenticeship.gov)
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (field of study and institution data) (collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, Sep 2026 (bls.gov)
- Census Building Permits Survey, Sep 2026 (census.gov)
- FEMA disaster declarations, Oct 7, 2026 (fema.gov)
- Board of Electricians and Plumbers (DCCA PVL) (cca.hawaii.gov)