Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Portland-South Portland, ME

Each occupation's median wage in Portland-South Portland, ME compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Portland-South Portland, ME pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Portland-South Portland, ME run 1.9% above the national average (2024), so a Portland-South Portland, ME salary is worth about 0.98× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

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

Find high paying jobs in Portland-South Portland, ME

OccupationMedian, Portland-South Portland, ME · vs. national

1Physicians, All Other$442,790
Doctoral or professional degree
$211,690 – $442,790+66.5%
2Manicurists and Pedicurists$59,350
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,180 – $81,550+66.0%
3Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other$61,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,180 – $76,340+63.8%
4Bartenders$54,170
No formal educational credential
$32,020 – $103,710+57.7%
5Skincare Specialists$64,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,130 – $101,750+42.0%
6Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$62,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,020 – $81,120+41.4%
7Teachers and Instructors, All Other$92,100
Bachelor's degree
$48,820 – $108,850+39.3%
8Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$108,850
Associate's degree
$82,750 – $130,480+38.9%
9Massage Therapists$78,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,450 – $127,180+33.6%
10Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$48,770
Some college, no degree
$38,490 – $60,210+32.6%
11Computer Programmers$131,960
Bachelor's degree
$80,080 – $191,670+31.4%
12Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$64,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,160 – $82,280+31.0%
13Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$46,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,240 – $74,540+29.8%
14Dentists, General$221,190
Doctoral or professional degree
$160,420 – $388,110+29.4%
15Production Workers, All Other$51,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,400 – $64,770+28.2%
16Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$95,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,000 – $99,180+28.1%
17Painters, Construction and Maintenance$63,120
No formal educational credential
$49,450 – $75,530+27.8%
18Dental Assistants$61,240
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,160 – $62,660+27.4%
19First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$61,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $82,230+27.2%
20Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$64,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,280 – $75,790+26.2%
21Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$47,000
No formal educational credential
$38,020 – $52,830+25.5%
22Chiropractors$99,210
Doctoral or professional degree
$59,620 – $198,500+25.3%
23Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$60,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,750 – $79,730+25.3%
24Waiters and Waitresses$44,070
No formal educational credential
$31,130 – $87,790+25.1%
25Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$77,770
Associate's degree
$51,850 – $113,760+24.9%
26Cooks, Restaurant$46,560
No formal educational credential
$38,570 – $54,830+24.5%
27Parts Salespersons$47,850
No formal educational credential
$35,220 – $61,630+23.9%
28Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$66,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,880 – $78,830+23.6%
29Tour and Travel Guides$47,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,530 – $52,580+23.5%
30Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$60,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,500 – $96,920+23.2%
31Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$59,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,220 – $123,360+23.2%
32Sewing Machine Operators$45,160
No formal educational credential
$34,920 – $54,400+23.2%
33Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$61,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,180 – $83,420+22.3%
34First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$59,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,370 – $74,110+21.0%
35Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$76,770
Bachelor's degree
$48,600 – $95,590+20.0%
36Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$45,800
No formal educational credential
$34,560 – $62,990+19.6%
37Public Safety Telecommunicators$63,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,470 – $77,190+19.3%
38Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$46,670
No formal educational credential
$35,320 – $58,260+19.2%
39Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,380
Associate's degree
$55,390 – $94,910+19.1%
40Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$37,100
No formal educational credential
$32,260 – $51,450+18.9%
41General Internal Medicine Physicians$304,390
Doctoral or professional degree
$173,520 – $480,030+18.6%
42Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$45,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,570 – $47,270+18.3%
43Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$46,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,700 – $69,780+18.2%
44Property Appraisers and Assessors$80,290
Bachelor's degree
$57,420 – $123,310+18.1%
45Optometrists$161,220
Doctoral or professional degree
$109,170 – $214,200+18.0%
46Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$75,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$63,430 – $83,060+17.9%
47Receptionists and Information Clerks$44,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,480 – $49,510+17.8%
48Surveyors$88,880
Bachelor's degree
$58,480 – $131,890+17.8%
49Cooks, Fast Food$36,310
No formal educational credential
$33,770 – $46,950+17.5%
50Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,520
Associate's degree
$61,560 – $99,600+17.2%

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

#	Occupation	MedianPortland-South Portland, ME	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$442,790	$211,690 – $442,790	+66.5%
2	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,350	$41,180 – $81,550	+66.0%
3	Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,070	$54,180 – $76,340	+63.8%
4	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$54,170	$32,020 – $103,710	+57.7%
5	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,370	$37,130 – $101,750	+42.0%
6	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,690	$47,020 – $81,120	+41.4%
7	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$92,100	$48,820 – $108,850	+39.3%
8	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$108,850	$82,750 – $130,480	+38.9%
9	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,090	$32,450 – $127,180	+33.6%
10	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$48,770	$38,490 – $60,210	+32.6%
11	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$131,960	$80,080 – $191,670	+31.4%
12	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,500	$47,160 – $82,280	+31.0%
13	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,460	$33,240 – $74,540	+29.8%
14	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$221,190	$160,420 – $388,110	+29.4%
15	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,420	$38,400 – $64,770	+28.2%
16	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,250	$67,000 – $99,180	+28.1%
17	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$63,120	$49,450 – $75,530	+27.8%
18	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,240	$49,160 – $62,660	+27.4%
19	First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling ServicesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,760	$41,600 – $82,230	+27.2%
20	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,760	$52,280 – $75,790	+26.2%
21	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$47,000	$38,020 – $52,830	+25.5%
22	ChiropractorsDoctoral or professional degree	$99,210	$59,620 – $198,500	+25.3%
23	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,860	$34,750 – $79,730	+25.3%
24	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$44,070	$31,130 – $87,790	+25.1%
25	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$77,770	$51,850 – $113,760	+24.9%
26	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$46,560	$38,570 – $54,830	+24.5%
27	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$47,850	$35,220 – $61,630	+23.9%
28	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,420	$51,880 – $78,830	+23.6%
29	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,070	$34,530 – $52,580	+23.5%
30	Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,630	$46,500 – $96,920	+23.2%
31	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,420	$46,220 – $123,360	+23.2%
32	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$45,160	$34,920 – $54,400	+23.2%
33	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,490	$45,180 – $83,420	+22.3%
34	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,410	$43,370 – $74,110	+21.0%
35	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$76,770	$48,600 – $95,590	+20.0%
36	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$45,800	$34,560 – $62,990	+19.6%
37	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,280	$52,470 – $77,190	+19.3%
38	Landscaping and Groundskeeping WorkersNo formal educational credential	$46,670	$35,320 – $58,260	+19.2%
39	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,380	$55,390 – $94,910	+19.1%
40	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$37,100	$32,260 – $51,450	+18.9%
41	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$304,390	$173,520 – $480,030	+18.6%
42	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,150	$39,570 – $47,270	+18.3%
43	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,540	$34,700 – $69,780	+18.2%
44	Property Appraisers and AssessorsBachelor's degree	$80,290	$57,420 – $123,310	+18.1%
45	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$161,220	$109,170 – $214,200	+18.0%
46	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,950	$63,430 – $83,060	+17.9%
47	Receptionists and Information ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,770	$36,480 – $49,510	+17.8%
48	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$88,880	$58,480 – $131,890	+17.8%
49	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$36,310	$33,770 – $46,950	+17.5%
50	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,520	$61,560 – $99,600	+17.2%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Portland-South Portland, ME

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