New grad RN jobs and nurse residency programs in Hawaii
Hawaii employs 12,940 registered nurses, and half of them earn more than $136,320 a year, $38,770 above the national median of $97,550. Hawaii is a small new-grad market, with 6 programs on our list (none was taking applications on Oct 29, 2026), so it is worth looking at California or Washington as well.
- RNs employed
- 12,940
- Median RN pay
- $136,320
- 25th percentile
- $48.65/hr
- Programs we track
- 6
- Open on Oct 29, 2026
- 0
- In the compact
- No
- NCLEX pass rate, 2025
- 87.8%
- Work before the NCLEX
- No
Every Hawaii program we track is listed in the Vibe Nursing app.
What new grad nurses earn in Hawaii
A quarter of Hawaii RNs earn less than $48.65 an hour ($101,200 a year) and half earn more than $65.54. First-year offers tend to sit near the lower figure, since hospital pay scales usually rise with experience.
Hawaii ranks 2nd of the 50 states and DC for median RN pay, among the best-paid places to be a nurse in the country.
Pay is spread out in Hawaii: $16.89 an hour separates the 25th percentile from the median, a wider gap than in most states.
| Metro area | RNs employed | Median pay | 25th percentile, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 9,680 | $139,260 | $48.79 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | 1,270 | $144,350 | $48.74 |
Where the RN jobs are
Urban Honolulu employs 9,680 RNs, 75% of the state's total, so most RN jobs in Hawaii are there.
Getting licensed in Hawaii
The Hawaii Board of Nursing licenses RNs in Hawaii.
Hawaii is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so you need a Hawaii license to work here whatever license you hold elsewhere. If you studied in another state, you can apply to the Hawaii Board of Nursing for licensure by examination and take the NCLEX for Hawaii directly, or pass in your school's state and apply here by endorsement afterward.
Of the nearest states, Washington is in the compact, which matters if you plan to move between them.
Working before you pass the NCLEX in Hawaii
No. Hawaii's temporary permit is only for nurses who already hold a license in another state, territory or country, so a new graduate waits for an RN license.
Source: Hawaii Board of Nursing, temporary permit instructions, read October 2026.
Of the West Coast states, California does let new graduates work on a permit before passing. See every state's rule.
NCLEX pass rate in Hawaii
445 of the 507 first-time, U.S.-educated candidates who took the NCLEX-RN for Hawaii in 2025 passed: 87.8%, 1.1 points above the national rate of 86.7%.
Set against the 6 new-grad programs we track here, that is about 85 new test takers per program, fewer than the national figure of about 114.
The exam is the same everywhere; the rate tells you about the graduates who tested here, not about your own chances. See pass rates in every state.
Hawaii and the West Coast states
Among the West Coast states, California both pays RNs the most (a median of $140,270) and has the most new-grad programs on our list (266).
| State | Programs we track | Median RN pay | In the compact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 6 | $136,320 | No |
| California | 266 | $140,270 | No |
| Washington | 42 | $124,200 | Yes |
| Oregon | 27 | $129,010 | No |
Questions about Hawaii
How much do new grad nurses make in Hawaii?
The BLS does not separate new graduates. For all Hawaii RNs, the 25th percentile is $48.65 an hour and the median $65.54 (May 2025); first-year offers usually sit nearer $48.65.
How many nurse residency programs are in Hawaii?
Vibe Nursing tracks 6 new-grad programs at Hawaii hospitals: nurse residencies, and hospitals that hire new grads straight into RN jobs. On Oct 29, 2026, none was taking applications.
Can I work in Hawaii with a compact license?
No. Hawaii is not in the compact, so you need a license from the Hawaii Board of Nursing.
Can new grads work before passing the NCLEX in Hawaii?
No. Hawaii's temporary permit is only for nurses who already hold a license in another state, territory or country, so a new graduate waits for an RN license.
What is the NCLEX pass rate in Hawaii?
87.8% in 2025: 445 of 507 first-time, U.S.-educated candidates passed the NCLEX-RN for Hawaii (NCSBN). The national rate was 86.7%.
What do RNs earn in the Urban Honolulu area?
The median is $139,260 a year, and a quarter of RNs there earn under $48.79 an hour (BLS, May 2025). The area employs 9,680 RNs.
Sources
- Pay and jobs: BLS OEWS, May 2025, all registered nurses.
- Board: NCSBN directory. Compact: nursecompact.com. Both read October 2026.
- Working before the NCLEX: Hawaii Board of Nursing, temporary permit instructions, read October 2026.
- NCLEX: NCSBN, 2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics, first-time U.S.-educated candidates. Portions copyrighted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. All rights reserved.
- Program counts: Vibe Nursing, Oct 29, 2026 (how we count).