AI Data Quality Engineer.
Honolulu.
$180,000
median salary, 29% above the national average
$135,000 to $238,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
Here is what AI Data Quality Engineers actually make in Honolulu: $135,000 at the 25th percentile, $180,000 at the median, and $238,000 at the 75th. That is 29% above the national average. Honolulu's economy is driven by military spending, tourism, and healthcare. The number on your offer letter will depend on what you bring and how you ask.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $162,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$117,000
to $144,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$153,000
to $189,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$198,000
to $234,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$225,000
to $279,000
Salary trend
+10% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $83,000 to the total package.
Base
$180,000
Equity
$50,000
Bonus
$22,000
Signing
$11,000
Estimated total: $263,000
How Honolulu compares
Honolulu, HI
$180,000
Cost of living: 30% above average
National Average
$140,000
Honolulu is $40,000 above
AI Data Quality Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Honolulu
What you should know
If you are interviewing for AI Data Quality Engineer roles in Honolulu, here is what you are walking into. Honolulu's economy is driven by military spending, tourism, and healthcare. The extremely high cost of living means employers must pay significant premiums. Federal and defense contractor roles offer the highest salaries, while the growing renewable energy sector is creating new technology positions. AI data quality engineers ensure training and serving data meets standards for ML model reliability. Salary is driven by experience with data validation frameworks, drift detection systems, and automated quality monitoring at scale. Engineers working in regulated industries like healthcare and finance earn 12 to 20% premiums due to compliance requirements.
Junior AI data quality engineers earn $105,000 to $125,000. Engineers with 3 to 5 years of ML data quality experience reach $140,000 to $185,000. Senior engineers and quality team leads earn $190,000 to $248,000, while directors of data quality at enterprise AI companies can command $255,000 to $330,000. In Honolulu, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 30% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
Base salary is not the full picture. Tech companies provide equity grants of 12 to 22% of base salary. Bonuses range from 10 to 15% annually. Some firms offer additional compensation for maintaining critical data quality SLAs, adding $5,000 to $12,000 for on-call responsibilities. And on the tax side: hawaii has the highest top state income tax rate in the nation at 11%. Honolulu has no city income tax, but the state burden combined with high living costs requires careful salary planning. When someone quotes you $180,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Negotiate housing allowances alongside salary. Honolulu employers, especially federal contractors, often provide COLA adjustments and housing stipends that significantly increase total compensation. The range for AI Data Quality Engineers in Honolulu runs from $135,000 to $238,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Software Engineer in Honolulu earns $181,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Honolulu is Chief AI Officer at $395,000
Common questions.
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