Food Preparation Workers pay range in Lewiston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,410 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,410 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Lewiston earn between $32,130 and $37,260.
- $31K10th
- $32K25th
- $36KMedian
- $37K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,270 | $3,022 | $17.44 |
| Median | $35,630 | $2,969 | $17.13 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $32,130 | $2,678 | $15.45 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,260 | $3,105 | $17.91 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Lewiston vs. Maine and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Lewiston earn 3% less than the Maine average ($37,470) and about the same as the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston | $36,270 | $35,630 | $31,410 | $44,410 | 340 |
| Maine | $37,470 | $36,030 | $31,150 | $46,400 | 4,560 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Lewiston
On the average salary of $36,270, a single filer in Lewiston takes home about $30,437 a year, or $2,536 a month and $1,171 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Is Lewiston a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lewiston area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 94.7), so the average $36,270 buys what about $38,285 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Lewiston ($49,540). A typical home costs $333,850, or 9.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Maine cities
Lewiston ranks 2nd of 3 Maine metro areas for this job; Portland pays the most ($39,110).
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Lewiston: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Lewiston?
$17.44 an hour on average, and $17.13 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Lewiston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,410 a year and the 25th percentile is $32,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Lewiston?
About $30,437 a year ($2,536 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,270. Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Lewiston than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2021; area Lewiston-Auburn, ME (30340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.24, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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