Lawyers pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $226,030 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Portland earn between $84,900 and $169,710.
- $79K10th
- $85K25th
- $130KMedian
- $170K75th
- $226K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $139,490 | $11,624 | $67.06 |
| Median | $129,990 | $10,832 | $62.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $84,900 | $7,075 | $40.82 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $169,710 | $14,142 | $81.59 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Portland vs. Maine and the U.S.
Lawyers in Portland earn 8% more than the Maine average ($129,600) and 25% less than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $139,490 | $129,990 | $78,990 | $226,030 | 1,360 |
| Maine | $129,600 | $113,120 | $76,820 | $215,610 | 2,280 |
| United States | $185,840 | $159,670 | $78,360 | $351,600 | 754,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Lawyers salary after taxes in Portland
On the average salary of $139,490, a single filer in Portland takes home about $98,655 a year, or $8,221 a month and $3,794 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% 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 lawyers? 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 $139,490 buys what about $136,946 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($56,960). A typical home costs $542,063, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers 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 lawyers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($288,980).
- San Jose, CA$288,980
- Santa Rosa, CA$248,950
- Los Angeles, CA$241,500
- San Francisco, CA$237,060
- Bridgeport, CT$231,710
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Lawyers salary in Portland: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Portland?
$67.06 an hour on average, and $62.50 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $84,900, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Portland?
About $98,655 a year ($8,221 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $139,490. Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Do lawyers earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% less than the U.S. average for this job ($185,840).
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 23-1011; area Portland-South Portland, ME (38860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.4%.
- 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 0.97, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.