Human Resources Specialists pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,060 a year or less, while the top 10% make $112,260 or more. The middle half of human resources specialists in Portland earn between $60,940 and $95,320.
- $48K10th
- $61K25th
- $78KMedian
- $95K75th
- $112K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $80,130 | $6,678 | $38.52 |
| Median | $78,100 | $6,508 | $37.55 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,940 | $5,078 | $29.30 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $95,320 | $7,943 | $45.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Human Resources Specialists pay in Portland vs. Maine and the U.S.
Human resources specialists in Portland earn 7% more than the Maine average ($75,140) and about the same as the U.S. average ($81,990). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $75,940.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $80,130 | $78,100 | $48,060 | $112,260 | 1,310 |
| Maine | $75,140 | $71,630 | $45,850 | $105,840 | 3,020 |
| United States | $81,990 | $75,940 | $47,180 | $128,720 | 912,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Human Resources Specialists salary after taxes in Portland
On the average salary of $80,130, a single filer in Portland takes home about $61,470 a year, or $5,123 a month and $2,364 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% 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 human resources specialists? 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 $80,130 buys what about $78,668 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($56,960). A typical home costs $542,063, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Human Resources Specialists 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 human resources specialists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($122,290).
- San Jose, CA$122,290
- San Francisco, CA$113,530
- Washington, DC$105,580
- Lexington Park, MD$104,240
- Boulder, CO$99,420
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Human Resources Specialists salary in Portland: questions
How much do human resources specialists make an hour in Portland?
$38.52 an hour on average, and $37.55 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level human resources specialists salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,060 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,940, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the human resources specialists take-home pay in Portland?
About $61,470 a year ($5,123 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $80,130. Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Do human resources specialists earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($81,990).
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 13-1071; area Portland-South Portland, ME (38860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
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