SOC 51-3093 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders — Maine
Maine · 1 metro areas compared
In Maine the median wage is $37,500.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Maine the median wage is $37,500. That is 9.8% lower than the national median of $41,590. Pay ranges from under $35,990 at the tenth percentile to more than $53,150 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $37,140 to $49,830.
Employment stands at 170, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Maine ranks number 31st out of 41 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Portland records the highest median at $50,330. Of the 634 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 601st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,990 | −13.5% |
| 25th | $37,140 | −10.7% |
| Median (50th) | $37,500 | −9.8% |
| 75th | $49,830 | +19.8% |
| 90th | $53,150 | +27.8% |
| Mean | $42,170 | +1.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Maine
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland | $50,330 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Maine run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $37,500 goes as far as $38,620 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 7.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$37,500as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$38,620US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $37,500 a year, 9.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,990 to $53,150 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 170 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 31st of 41 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Portland, at $50,330.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Maine?
The median annual wage is $37,500, or $18.03 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 $41,590, so pay in Maine is 9.8% 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 Maine earns more than $53,150 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,990 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 $50,330 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 170 jobs in this occupation in Maine. 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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