Food Preparation Workers Salary in Maine
The median for food preparation workers in Maine is $36,030 a year, somewhat above the national $35,320 (+2%); the state ranks 14th of 51 states by median. That is 30% less than the median across all occupations in Maine ($51,430). Neighbouring New Hampshire pays more, with a median of $36,780. Maine employs 4,560 food preparation workers, 7.12 per 1,000 jobs, the 39th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.24 means the occupation is more concentrated in Maine than nationally.
Maine vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Maine | Hourly | $14.98 | $16.23 | $17.32 | $18.78 | $22.31 | $18.02 | 4,560 | 7.12 | 1.24 |
| Annual | $31,150 | $33,760 | $36,030 | $39,060 | $46,400 | $37,470 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $12.41 | $14.40 | $16.98 | $18.53 | $21.80 | $16.96 | 893,600 | – | – |
| Annual | $25,810 | $29,950 | $35,320 | $38,550 | $45,340 | $35,290 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 14th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 39th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.24
- Jobs per 1,000
- 7.12
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Maine's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Maine
3 metropolitan areas and 2 nonmetropolitan areas touching Maine publish a row for food preparation workers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $17.91 | $37,260 | $33,040 | $47,360 | 1,900 | 6.59 | 1.15 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $17.13 | $35,630 | $31,410 | $44,410 | 340 | 7.10 | 1.24 |
| Bangor, ME | $16.81 | $34,970 | $30,900 | $44,340 | 450 | 6.22 | 1.08 |
| Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $16.84 | $35,020 | $30,860 | $45,030 | 600 | 9.54 | 1.66 |
| Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $16.84 | $35,020 | $30,570 | $44,950 | 1,260 | 8.86 | 1.54 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | $17.32 | $36,030 | 4,560 | 1.24 |
| New Hampshire | $17.68 | $36,780 | 3,420 | 0.87 |
See the national page for Food Preparation Workers (every state ranked) and the Maine wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Maine estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.