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  1. Home/
  2. Salaries/
  3. E3 Engineer/
  4. Honolulu

E3 Engineer.

Honolulu.

$153,000

median salary, 28% above the national average

$120,000 to $199,000. Last updated April 2026.

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Data points to own the conversation.

If you are evaluating a E3 Engineer offer in Honolulu, HI, here is the reality: $120,000 to $199,000, with $153,000 as the midpoint. 28% above the national average. Do not accept the first number.

Salary range

25th Percentile

$120,000

per year

Median

$153,000

per year

75th Percentile

$199,000

per year

Where do you fall?

$120,000$199,000

Salary by experience

The gap between entry and lead level is typically $138,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.

Entry (0-2 yrs)

$99,000

to $122,000

Mid (3-5 yrs)

$130,000

to $161,000

Senior (6-9 yrs)

$168,000

to $199,000

Lead (10+ yrs)

$191,000

to $237,000

Salary trend

+5% YoY
$126,000
2022
$132,000
2023
$139,000
2024
$146,000
2025
$153,000
2026

Total compensation

Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $45,000 to the total package.

Base

$153,000

Equity

$26,000

Bonus

$16,000

Signing

$3,000

Estimated total: $198,000

How Honolulu compares

Honolulu, HI

$153,000

Cost of living: 30% above average

National Average

$120,000

Honolulu is $33,000 above

E3 Engineer salary by city

E3 Engineer salary comparison across 10 cities
CityMedianRangeCOLAdjusted
San Jose, CA$162,000$127,000 – $211,0001.38x$117,000
San Francisco, CA$159,000$124,000 – $206,0001.35x$118,000
Washington DC, DC$156,000$122,000 – $203,0001.25x$125,000
Honolulu, HI$153,000$120,000 – $199,0001.30x$118,000
New York, NY$152,000$119,000 – $198,0001.28x$119,000
Boston, MA$152,000$119,000 – $198,0001.22x$125,000
Seattle, WA$147,000$115,000 – $192,0001.24x$119,000
Los Angeles, CA$144,000$113,000 – $188,0001.18x$122,000
Newark, NJ$142,000$111,000 – $184,0001.18x$120,000
Arlington, VA$142,000$111,000 – $185,0001.22x$116,000

See all 81 cities for E3 Engineer →

Salary by role in Honolulu

Salary comparison by role in Honolulu
RoleMedianRange
Technical Fellow$473,000$369,000 – $615,000
Principal Quantitative Researcher$455,000$355,000 – $592,000
Principal AI Research Scientist$437,000$341,000 – $568,000
E3 Engineer$153,000$120,000 – $199,000
Nurse Practitioner$153,000$134,000 – $181,000
AI Model Evaluator$153,000$115,000 – $197,000
Junior Microservices Engineer$153,000$119,000 – $199,000
Junior Security Operations Manager$153,000$119,000 – $198,000

What you should know

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. That is the backdrop for every E3 Engineer offer you will see here.

One thing people overlook: taxes. 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. The salary on the offer letter is not the salary in your bank account. Always model your take home before you accept.

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 E3 Engineers in Honolulu runs from $120,000 to $199,000. 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

Interactive

Is your offer competitive?

Enter your E3 Engineer offer to see where you stand in Honolulu.

$

25th

$120,000

Median

$153,000

75th

$199,000

Considering a related role?

  • A AI Voice Experience Designer in Honolulu earns $152,000 (1% less)
  • The highest-paying role in Honolulu is Technical Fellow at $473,000

Common questions.

Entry level E3 Engineer positions in Honolulu typically start near $120,000. Candidates with relevant internships, certifications, or portfolio work often negotiate closer to the median of $153,000.

In Honolulu, large enterprises typically pay E3 Engineers 10 to 20% more in base salary than small companies, but startups often compensate with equity that can exceed base salary value. Total compensation at top companies often doubles the base through equity and bonuses. The $120,000 to $199,000 range reflects this entire spectrum.

Experience level, specialization depth, and industry domain are the primary E3 Engineer salary drivers. In Honolulu, these factors can push compensation from the 25th percentile of $120,000 to the 75th percentile of $199,000 or beyond.

Total compensation for E3 Engineers typically exceeds base salary by 20 to 40% when factoring in bonuses, equity, and benefits. In Honolulu's market, the base range of $120,000 to $199,000 is just the starting point for negotiation.

Honolulu's economy is driven by military spending, tourism, and healthcare. The extremely high cost of living means employers must pay significant premiums. For E3 Engineers specifically, the breadth of hiring across sectors signals sustained demand. The current compensation range of $120,000 to $199,000 reflects a market that is competing for talent.

Compare the offer against the Honolulu range: $120,000 (25th percentile) to $199,000 (75th percentile). An offer near $153,000 is market rate. Below $120,000 warrants a conversation unless equity or unusual benefits close the gap. Negotiate housing allowances alongside salary. Honolulu employers, especially federal contractors, often provide COLA adjustments and housing stipends that significantly increase total compensation.

E3 Engineer salary in other cities

Fargo$98,000
Houston$115,000
Hartford$132,000
Indianapolis$105,000
Jackson$96,000
Jersey City$140,000

Other salaries in Honolulu

Accountant$93,000
Applied AI Researcher$238,000
Agentic Orchestrator$257,000
Autonomous Systems Engineer$264,000

Related

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Cite this data

Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.

"E3 Engineer Salary in Honolulu, HI." Orbyt Salary Explorer, April 2026. https://www.orbytjobs.ai/salaries/e3-engineer/honolulu

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