Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Portland, ME
Cooks, Restaurant in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area earn a median $46,560 a year — 25% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,630 take-home, or $3,136 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Portland, ME. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,407
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,887
- Medicare (1.45%)$675
- Maine income tax$1,961
- Take-home pay$37,630
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.75% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Portland, ME
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,570 | $18.54 | $31,726 | $2,644 |
| 25th percentile | $42,450 | $20.41 | $34,605 | $2,884 |
| Median (50th) | $46,560 | $22.38 | $37,630 | $3,136 |
| 75th percentile | $48,660 | $23.39 | $39,175 | $3,265 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,830 | $26.36 | $43,717 | $3,643 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maine resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,560 buys in Portland, ME
Prices in Portland, ME are 1.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $37,630 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,943 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Portland, ME as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, ME ranks #2 of 101 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $46,560 | $37,630 | $36,943 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $47,730 | $40,531 | $36,471 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $47,170 | $38,588 | $34,946 |
| 5 | Worcester, MA | $44,250 | $35,742 | $34,863 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $44,370 | $36,587 | $34,588 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $37,840 | $31,742 | $34,536 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, NJ | $40,250 | $33,830 | $34,221 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 101 metros →
About the job: cooks, restaurant
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Portland, ME?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area is $46,560 a year, or about $22.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $42,450 and $48,660.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Portland, ME?
On the median $46,560 salary, a single filer living in Maine takes home about $37,630 a year ($3,136 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,961 in Maine taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, ME a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 25% above the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 1.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,943 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, ME ranks #2 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Portland, ME?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, ME is $1,548 a month ($1,968 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, ME
- Waiter and Waitress — $44,070
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,300