SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Southwest Maine
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area · 3 metro areas compared
In Southwest Maine, ME the median wage is $55,900.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Southwest Maine, ME the median wage is $55,900. That is 10.5% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay ranges from under $44,850 at the tenth percentile to more than $84,330 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $50,750 to $73,790.
Employment stands at 200, or 1.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Portland records the highest median at $57,380. Of the 392 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 203rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,850 | −28.2% |
| 25th | $50,750 | −18.8% |
| Median (50th) | $55,900 | −10.5% |
| 75th | $73,790 | +18.1% |
| 90th | $84,330 | +35.0% |
| Mean | $61,290 | −1.9% |
Other metro areas in Maine
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Southwest Maine run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $55,900 goes as far as $57,570 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 7.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$55,900as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$57,570US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $55,900 a year, 10.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $44,850 to $84,330 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 200 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Portland, at $57,380.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Southwest Maine, ME?
The median annual wage is $55,900, or $26.87 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,470, so pay in Southwest Maine, ME is 10.5% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Southwest Maine, ME earns more than $84,330 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $44,850 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Portland, at $57,380 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 200 jobs in this occupation in Southwest Maine, ME. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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