Food Preparation Workers pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,360 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Portland earn between $35,770 and $41,340.
- $33K10th
- $36K25th
- $37KMedian
- $41K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,110 | $3,259 | $18.80 |
| Median | $37,260 | $3,105 | $17.91 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,770 | $2,981 | $17.20 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $41,340 | $3,445 | $19.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Portland vs. Maine and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Portland earn 4% more than the Maine average ($37,470) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $39,110 | $37,260 | $33,040 | $47,360 | 1,900 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $39,110, a single filer in Portland takes home about $32,554 a year, or $2,713 a month and $1,252 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% 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 Portland a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.9), so the average $39,110 buys what about $38,397 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($56,960). A typical home costs $542,063, or 13.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Maine cities
Portland ranks 1st of 3 Maine metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Portland: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Portland?
$18.80 an hour on average, and $17.91 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,770, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Portland?
About $32,554 a year ($2,713 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,110. Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% more than 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 Portland-South Portland, ME (38860). 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 1.15, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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