SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Lewiston
Lewiston-Auburn, ME · 2 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Lewiston, ME comes to $43,130 a year, ahead of the national median of $35,230 by 22.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Lewiston, ME comes to $43,130 a year, ahead of the national median of $35,230 by 22.4%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $34,070 and $62,170. The lowest tenth earn under $30,470, while the highest tenth earn more than $80,540.
Employment stands at 450, or 9.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Bangor leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $45,610. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 183rd of 228 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,470 | −13.5% |
| 25th | $34,070 | −3.3% |
| Median (50th) | $43,130 | +22.4% |
| 75th | $62,170 | +76.5% |
| 90th | $80,540 | +128.6% |
| Mean | $50,340 | +42.9% |
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 $43,130 goes as far as $44,418 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 26.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$43,130as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$44,418US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $43,130 a year, 22.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $30,470 to $80,540 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 450 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Bangor, at $45,610.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Lewiston, ME?
The median annual wage is $43,130, or $20.74 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 $35,230, so pay in Lewiston, ME is 22.4% 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 $80,540 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $30,470 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 Bangor, at $45,610 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 450 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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