Is Maine a good state for your salary to go far?

Maine ranks #23 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 100.5 across 367 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 97.0 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.

What is the cost of living in Maine?

Maine's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 97.0, where the US average is 100. That is at or below the national average, so a dollar buys as much as or more than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Maine

Where Your Salary Goes Furthest in Maine

Maine ranks #23 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index (mean 100.5, base = 100). Cost of living 97.0 (US = 100); top income tax 7.15%.

Does a salary go further in Maine? (cost of living + state tax)

In Maine, the cost of living is 97.0 on the BEA index (US = 100) and the Gera US Real Pay Index averages 100.5 across 367 occupations, ranking it #23 of 51 states for how far pay goes after 2025 state income tax and 2024 BEA cost of living. Real BLS OEWS; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Maine ranks #23 of 51 states. Mean across 367 occupations; 100 = the average state, 100.5 means pay goes 0.5% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

100.5

Real pay by occupation in Maine (best first)

Occupation	BLS median	Real pay	Index
Bartenders	$48,920	$48,668	144.7
Physicians, All Other	$419,410	$403,268	143.1
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other	$107,060	$104,435	135.7
Financial Risk Specialists	$141,020	$136,925	134.3
Financial Specialists, All Other	$109,060	$106,349	132.9
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary	$46,750	$46,581	131.9
Manicurists and Pedicurists	$48,540	$48,303	129.5
Waiters and Waitresses	$43,370	$43,301	128.2
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	$59,230	$58,575	128.2
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers	$92,120	$90,142	127.4
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers	$38,560	$38,632	125.1
Teachers and Instructors, All Other	$84,330	$82,689	124.9
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop	$36,800	$36,924	121.0
Dental Assistants	$60,070	$59,382	120.9
First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services	$59,050	$58,402	120.9
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists	$44,000	$43,912	120.6
Massage Therapists	$73,290	$72,084	120.1
Cooks, Restaurant	$45,290	$45,164	119.6
Skincare Specialists	$55,850	$55,327	119.5
Tour and Travel Guides	$44,940	$44,825	119.2
Property Appraisers and Assessors	$80,930	$79,425	118.8
Medical Transcriptionists	$48,600	$48,361	118.7
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers	$45,510	$45,378	117.1
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks	$58,890	$58,248	117.0
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other	$61,380	$60,640	117.0
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers	$35,850	$36,001	116.8
Physical Therapist Aides	$39,660	$39,700	116.1
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other	$61,490	$60,746	116.0
Sewing Machine Operators	$43,520	$43,446	116.0
Amusement and Recreation Attendants	$35,330	$35,497	115.4
Insurance Underwriters	$95,510	$93,385	115.1
Tutors	$49,880	$49,591	115.0
Data Entry Keyers	$48,190	$47,967	114.9
Painters, Construction and Maintenance	$59,270	$58,613	114.8
Cooks, Fast Food	$36,350	$36,487	114.7
Biological Scientists, All Other	$104,570	$102,053	114.4
Fast Food and Counter Workers	$34,710	$34,895	113.7
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers	$45,750	$45,611	113.6
Counter and Rental Clerks	$46,870	$46,698	113.3
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers	$45,970	$45,824	112.8

Showing the 40 highest real-pay occupations of 367 BLS publishes for Maine. Real pay = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the 2024 BEA cost of living (97.0, US = 100).

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Maine, a $85,000 salary is worth about $81,321 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $6,077 (≈ top marginal 7.15% (upper bound)) · take-home $78,923 · BEA cost of living 97.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $95,952, a $14,630 gain over Maine.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$95,952	88.6
2	Arkansas	$93,959	86.9
3	Louisiana	$93,473	88.2
4	Mississippi	$93,453	87.0
5	Iowa	$93,172	87.8
6	North Dakota	$93,161	89.0
7	Tennessee	$92,522	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$92,167	87.8
9	Wyoming	$91,703	92.7
10	Alabama	$90,911	88.8
11	Kentucky	$90,507	90.2
12	West Virginia	$90,397	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Maine real pay — FAQ

Is Maine a good state for your salary to go far?: Maine ranks #23 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 100.5 across 367 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 97.0 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.
What is the cost of living in Maine?: Maine's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 97.0, where the US average is 100. That is at or below the national average, so a dollar buys as much as or more than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

Compare other states

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for Maine is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.