Bartender Salary in Portland, ME
Bartenders in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area earn a median $54,170 a year — 58% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $43,231 take-home, or $3,603 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Portland, ME. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,320
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,359
- Medicare (1.45%)$785
- Maine income tax$2,475
- Take-home pay$43,231
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.75% state
Bartender pay by experience in Portland, ME
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,020 | $15.39 | $26,843 | $2,237 |
| 25th percentile | $34,910 | $16.78 | $28,997 | $2,416 |
| Median (50th) | $54,170 | $26.04 | $43,231 | $3,603 |
| 75th percentile | $76,850 | $36.95 | $58,888 | $4,907 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,710 | $49.86 | $75,870 | $6,323 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maine resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $54,170 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 bartender's $43,231 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,442 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Portland, ME has 1.3× the national concentration of bartender jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, ME ranks #8 of 237 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $86,280 | $64,501 | $58,962 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $75,340 | $57,636 | $51,943 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $55,820 | $47,031 | $46,994 |
| 4 | Bellingham, WA | $56,110 | $47,264 | $45,739 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $58,180 | $48,928 | $44,026 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $61,220 | $48,661 | $43,230 |
| 7 | Bremerton, WA | $53,810 | $45,416 | $43,005 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $54,170 | $43,231 | $42,442 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 237 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Portland, ME?
The median bartender salary in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area is $54,170 a year, or about $26.04 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,910 and $76,850.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Portland, ME?
On the median $54,170 salary, a single filer living in Maine takes home about $43,231 a year ($3,603 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,475 in Maine taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, ME a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 58% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 1.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,442 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, ME ranks #8 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender 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) — 43% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, ME
- Chef and Head Cook — $57,380
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $49,880
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $47,000
- Cooks, Restaurant — $46,560
- Waiter and Waitress — $44,070
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $39,170
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,260
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $37,100
- Dishwasher — $36,440
- Cooks, Fast Food — $36,310
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,300