Jobs that actually got a raise in Maine

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

Cost of living: prices in Maine run 3.0% below the national average (2024), so a Maine salary is worth about 1.03× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Maine.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Maine

OccupationMedian, Maine · Real change since 2019

1Bartenders$48,920
No formal educational credential
$31,120 – $99,850+57.0%+97.7% nominal
2Coaches and Scouts$43,640
Bachelor's degree
$31,270 – $102,780+51.3%+90.6% nominal
3Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$51,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,660 – $62,360+50.0%+88.9% nominal
4Manicurists and Pedicurists$48,540
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,800 – $81,490+47.4%+85.6% nominal
5Waiters and Waitresses$43,370
No formal educational credential
$30,490 – $82,930+41.4%+78.0% nominal
6Tour and Travel Guides$44,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,910 – $55,240+37.4%+73.0% nominal
7Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$44,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,640 – $63,640+37.1%+72.6% nominal
8Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$64,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,350 – $75,790+36.6%+72.1% nominal
9Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$92,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,170 – $97,390+36.4%+71.8% nominal
10Skincare Specialists$55,850
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,520 – $100,190+33.9%+68.7% nominal
11Counter and Rental Clerks$46,870
No formal educational credential
$34,820 – $60,610+30.7%+64.6% nominal
12Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$45,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,390 – $57,860+28.6%+61.9% nominal
13Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$49,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,730 – $68,390+28.6%+62.0% nominal
14Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$38,560
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $62,080+26.0%+58.6% nominal
15Driver/Sales Workers$39,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,470 – $59,040+25.5%+58.1% nominal
16Crossing Guards and Flaggers$40,140
No formal educational credential
$36,610 – $46,170+25.1%+57.5% nominal
17Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$57,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,180 – $63,360+23.9%+56.0% nominal
18Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$73,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,160 – $82,600+23.8%+55.8% nominal
19Producers and Directors$71,320
Bachelor's degree
$44,000 – $138,230+23.7%+55.8% nominal
20Nursing Assistants$47,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,100 – $58,120+23.2%+55.1% nominal
21Tire Repairers and Changers$38,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,130 – $48,170+22.2%+53.9% nominal
22Operations Research Analysts$99,460
Bachelor's degree
$66,520 – $141,050+21.4%+52.9% nominal
23Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$47,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,860 – $60,480+20.8%+52.1% nominal
24Cooks, Restaurant$45,290
No formal educational credential
$38,040 – $49,530+20.6%+51.9% nominal
25Massage Therapists$73,290
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,450 – $119,580+20.4%+51.6% nominal
26Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$35,850
No formal educational credential
$30,470 – $44,980+20.3%+51.5% nominal
27Insurance Underwriters$95,510
Bachelor's degree
$62,730 – $133,390+19.5%+50.5% nominal
28Stonemasons$60,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,930 – $74,260+19.4%+50.3% nominal
29Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$79,600
Doctoral or professional degree
$59,970 – $118,810+19.4%+50.4% nominal
30Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$36,800
No formal educational credential
$30,840 – $51,040+19.1%+50.0% nominal
31Psychiatric Technicians$45,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,320 – $51,740+19.0%+49.9% nominal
32Light Truck Drivers$44,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,310 – $93,670+18.7%+49.5% nominal
33Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$42,640
No formal educational credential
$32,550 – $55,230+18.7%+49.5% nominal
34Cooks, Fast Food$36,350
No formal educational credential
$31,350 – $44,280+18.6%+49.3% nominal
35Animal Caretakers$37,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,360 – $48,530+18.4%+49.1% nominal
36Production Workers, All Other$46,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,400 – $68,720+18.0%+48.6% nominal
37Library Assistants, Clerical$37,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,970 – $48,540+17.3%+47.7% nominal
38Pest Control Workers$48,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,130 – $60,300+17.2%+47.6% nominal
39Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$83,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,190 – $121,950+17.2%+47.6% nominal
40Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$59,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,350 – $78,830+17.0%+47.3% nominal
41Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$45,970
No formal educational credential
$34,800 – $57,620+16.7%+47.0% nominal
42Dishwashers$35,620
No formal educational credential
$30,590 – $43,000+16.6%+46.9% nominal
43Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$37,680
No formal educational credential
$31,570 – $45,000+16.5%+46.7% nominal
44Home Health and Personal Care Aides$38,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,130 – $46,860+16.3%+46.5% nominal
45Residential Advisors$43,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,950 – $58,090+16.2%+46.3% nominal
46Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$44,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,400 – $55,680+16.0%+46.1% nominal
47Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$37,630
No formal educational credential
$34,520 – $44,560+15.8%+45.8% nominal
48Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$37,380
No formal educational credential
$34,640 – $44,190+15.5%+45.4% nominal
49Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$39,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,040 – $51,810+15.4%+45.3% nominal
50Dental Hygienists$97,680
Associate's degree
$83,420 – $108,680+15.3%+45.2% nominal

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianMaine	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$48,920	$31,120 – $99,850	+57.0%+97.7% nominal
2	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$43,640	$31,270 – $102,780	+51.3%+90.6% nominal
3	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,120	$46,660 – $62,360	+50.0%+88.9% nominal
4	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,540	$36,800 – $81,490	+47.4%+85.6% nominal
5	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$43,370	$30,490 – $82,930	+41.4%+78.0% nominal
6	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,940	$32,910 – $55,240	+37.4%+73.0% nominal
7	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$44,000	$30,640 – $63,640	+37.1%+72.6% nominal
8	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,760	$49,350 – $75,790	+36.6%+72.1% nominal
9	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,120	$65,170 – $97,390	+36.4%+71.8% nominal
10	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,850	$34,520 – $100,190	+33.9%+68.7% nominal
11	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$46,870	$34,820 – $60,610	+30.7%+64.6% nominal
12	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,750	$33,390 – $57,860	+28.6%+61.9% nominal
13	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,100	$35,730 – $68,390	+28.6%+62.0% nominal
14	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$38,560	$31,200 – $62,080	+26.0%+58.6% nominal
15	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,900	$30,470 – $59,040	+25.5%+58.1% nominal
16	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$40,140	$36,610 – $46,170	+25.1%+57.5% nominal
17	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,870	$45,180 – $63,360	+23.9%+56.0% nominal
18	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,200	$56,160 – $82,600	+23.8%+55.8% nominal
19	Producers and DirectorsBachelor's degree	$71,320	$44,000 – $138,230	+23.7%+55.8% nominal
20	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,070	$39,100 – $58,120	+23.2%+55.1% nominal
21	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,910	$36,130 – $48,170	+22.2%+53.9% nominal
22	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$99,460	$66,520 – $141,050	+21.4%+52.9% nominal
23	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,240	$37,860 – $60,480	+20.8%+52.1% nominal
24	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$45,290	$38,040 – $49,530	+20.6%+51.9% nominal
25	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,290	$32,450 – $119,580	+20.4%+51.6% nominal
26	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket TakersNo formal educational credential	$35,850	$30,470 – $44,980	+20.3%+51.5% nominal
27	Insurance UnderwritersBachelor's degree	$95,510	$62,730 – $133,390	+19.5%+50.5% nominal
28	StonemasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,980	$45,930 – $74,260	+19.4%+50.3% nominal
29	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$79,600	$59,970 – $118,810	+19.4%+50.4% nominal
30	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$36,800	$30,840 – $51,040	+19.1%+50.0% nominal
31	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,320	$39,320 – $51,740	+19.0%+49.9% nominal
32	Light Truck DriversHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,550	$31,310 – $93,670	+18.7%+49.5% nominal
33	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$42,640	$32,550 – $55,230	+18.7%+49.5% nominal
34	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$36,350	$31,350 – $44,280	+18.6%+49.3% nominal
35	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,230	$31,360 – $48,530	+18.4%+49.1% nominal
36	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,470	$38,400 – $68,720	+18.0%+48.6% nominal
37	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,890	$32,970 – $48,540	+17.3%+47.7% nominal
38	Pest Control WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,340	$46,130 – $60,300	+17.2%+47.6% nominal
39	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,090	$52,190 – $121,950	+17.2%+47.6% nominal
40	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,230	$46,350 – $78,830	+17.0%+47.3% nominal
41	Landscaping and Groundskeeping WorkersNo formal educational credential	$45,970	$34,800 – $57,620	+16.7%+47.0% nominal
42	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$35,620	$30,590 – $43,000	+16.6%+46.9% nominal
43	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$37,680	$31,570 – $45,000	+16.5%+46.7% nominal
44	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,580	$35,130 – $46,860	+16.3%+46.5% nominal
45	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,780	$38,950 – $58,090	+16.2%+46.3% nominal
46	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,370	$37,400 – $55,680	+16.0%+46.1% nominal
47	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$37,630	$34,520 – $44,560	+15.8%+45.8% nominal
48	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$37,380	$34,640 – $44,190	+15.5%+45.4% nominal
49	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,520	$35,040 – $51,810	+15.4%+45.3% nominal
50	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$97,680	$83,420 – $108,680	+15.3%+45.2% nominal

More for Maine

Metro areas in Maine

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Maine

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Maine to rank honestly.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Maine

More for Maine

Metro areas in Maine

By field in Maine

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state