SOC 35-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — Bangor
Bangor, ME · 2 metro areas compared
In Bangor, ME the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria is $42,700 a year, which is 14.0% higher than the national figure of $37,450.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Bangor, ME the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria is $42,700 a year, which is 14.0% higher than the national figure of $37,450. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $39,170 and $47,990. The lowest tenth earn under $36,030, while the highest tenth earn more than $48,930.
The area has 280 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.36 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Portland records the highest median at $47,000. Of the 306 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 250th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,030 | −3.8% |
| 25th | $39,170 | +4.6% |
| Median (50th) | $42,700 | +14.0% |
| 75th | $47,990 | +28.1% |
| 90th | $48,930 | +30.7% |
| Mean | $43,360 | +15.8% |
Other metro areas in Maine
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Bangor run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $42,700 goes as far as $43,975 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 17.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$42,700as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$43,975US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $42,700 a year, 14.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,030 to $48,930 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 280 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Portland, at $47,000.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Bangor, ME?
The median annual wage is $42,700, or $20.53 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 $37,450, so pay in Bangor, ME is 14.0% higher. 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 Bangor, ME earns more than $48,930 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,030 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 $47,000 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 280 jobs in this occupation in Bangor, 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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