Excavation costs and wages in Hawaii
What equipment operators and construction laborers earn in Hawaii, how many excavation contractors are listed here and in which counties, and the state's licensing rules. Job prices aren't published for any one state, so our price ranges are national.
Checked October 2, 2026
Wages in Hawaii
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Hawaii earn a median of $55.70 an hour, or $115,860 a year (BLS, May 2025). Half of them earn between $35.19 and $58.55 an hour, the 25th to 75th percentiles (BLS state file). BLS counts 2,380 of these jobs in Hawaii. That's above the national median of $28.78 an hour (BLS).
Construction laborers in Hawaii earn a median of $37.07 an hour, or $77,110 a year (BLS, May 2025). Half of them earn between $25.13 and $42.19 an hour, the 25th to 75th percentiles (BLS state file). BLS counts 4,580 of these jobs in Hawaii. That's above the national median of $22.66 an hour (BLS).
These are wages, not prices. A contractor's price also covers materials, equipment, insurance, overhead and profit, so a wage can't be turned into what a job costs you. BLS counts employees only, not the self-employed.
Contractors in Hawaii
Hawaii has 84 excavation contractors listed, and 52 of them hold an active USDOT registration. Of the counties with pages of their own, the largest are Hawaii County (34) and Maui County (32). Browse them by county, or ask for quotes and we'll match you with excavation contractors near you.
Permits and rules in Hawaii
Hawaii licenses contractors through the Contractors License Board, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) Professional and Vocational Licensing Division (HRS 444-9 Licenses required; HRS 444-2 Exemptions; HRS 444-7 Classification; Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 16 Chapter 77, Contractors).
National price ranges
National price ranges for excavation, clearing, grading and driveway work, each credited to its source, are in our guides to excavation, land clearing, grading and driveway costs.
For a planning range on your own job, run the estimator.
Hawaii against the national range
Published labor data puts the West roughly 20% above the Southeast (SiteX).
That's an average across a region, not a price for your job, and local quotes vary inside it.
Get quotes from contractors in your county
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Cite this page
“Excavation costs and wages in Hawaii.” LeaderExcavation.com, updated October 2, 2026. https://leaderexcavation.com/hi/costs/