Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,130 a year or less, while the top 10% make $87,790 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Portland earn between $33,960 and $63,400.
- $31K10th
- $34K25th
- $44KMedian
- $63K75th
- $88K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,780 | $4,315 | $24.89 |
| Median | $44,070 | $3,672 | $21.19 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,960 | $2,830 | $16.33 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $63,400 | $5,283 | $30.48 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Portland vs. Maine and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Portland earn about the same as the Maine average ($51,260) and 29% more than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is +25% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $51,780 | $44,070 | $31,130 | $87,790 | 5,070 |
| Maine | $51,260 | $43,370 | $30,490 | $82,930 | 9,090 |
| United States | $40,060 | $35,230 | $18,100 | $64,720 | 2,270,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Waiters and Waitresses salary after taxes in Portland
On the average salary of $51,780, a single filer in Portland takes home about $41,968 a year, or $3,497 a month and $1,614 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 waiters and waitresses? 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 $51,780 buys what about $50,835 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($56,960). A typical home costs $542,063, or 10.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Maine cities
Portland ranks 2nd of 3 Maine metro areas for this job; Bangor pays the most ($52,700).
Highest-paying cities for waiters and waitresses
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($87,210).
- Kahului, HI$87,210
- Seattle, WA$62,940
- Honolulu, HI$61,880
- Bremerton, WA$61,770
- Burlington, VT$61,070
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Waiters and Waitresses salary in Portland: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Portland?
$24.90 an hour on average, and $21.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,130 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Portland?
About $41,968 a year ($3,497 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,780. Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% more than the U.S. average for this job ($40,060).
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 35-3031; area Portland-South Portland, ME (38860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- 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 1.20, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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