SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Lewiston
Lewiston-Auburn, ME · 2 metro areas compared
At $35,630, median pay for Food Preparation Workers in Lewiston, ME tracks the national median of $35,320 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $35,630, median pay for Food Preparation Workers in Lewiston, ME tracks the national median of $35,320 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $32,130 and $37,260. The lowest tenth earn under $31,410, while the highest tenth earn more than $44,410.
Employment stands at 340, or 7.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Portland leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $37,260. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 217th of 228 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,410 | −11.1% |
| 25th | $32,130 | −9.0% |
| Median (50th) | $35,630 | +0.9% |
| 75th | $37,260 | +5.5% |
| 90th | $44,410 | +25.7% |
| Mean | $36,270 | +2.7% |
Other metro areas in Maine
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Lewiston run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $35,630 goes as far as $36,694 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$35,630as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$36,694US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $35,630 a year, 0.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,410 to $44,410 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 340 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Portland, at $37,260.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Lewiston, ME?
The median annual wage is $35,630, or $17.13 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 $35,320, so pay in Lewiston, ME is 0.9% 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 Lewiston, ME earns more than $44,410 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,410 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 $37,260 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 340 jobs in this occupation in Lewiston, 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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