Construction Laborer Salary in Portland, ME
Construction Laborers in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area earn a median $48,470 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,036 take-home, or $3,253 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in Portland, ME. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,636
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,005
- Medicare (1.45%)$703
- Maine income tax$2,090
- Take-home pay$39,036
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.75% state
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Portland, ME
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,270 | $17.44 | $30,011 | $2,501 |
| 25th percentile | $44,710 | $21.50 | $36,268 | $3,022 |
| Median (50th) | $48,470 | $23.30 | $39,036 | $3,253 |
| 75th percentile | $57,120 | $27.46 | $45,402 | $3,783 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,820 | $29.72 | $48,861 | $4,072 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maine resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $48,470 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 construction laborer's $39,036 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,324 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Construction Laborer jobs are less concentrated in Portland, ME than nationally (location quotient 0.72), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, ME ranks #186 of 286 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vineland, NJ | $83,680 | $64,558 | $67,271 |
| 2 | Trenton, NJ | $71,920 | $57,000 | $55,243 |
| 3 | Kahului, HI | $79,760 | $60,410 | $55,222 |
| 4 | Duluth, MN | $61,340 | $48,819 | $54,996 |
| 5 | Decatur, IL | $61,270 | $48,522 | $54,876 |
| 6 | St. Louis, MO | $64,500 | $51,912 | $54,593 |
| 7 | Peoria, IL | $62,960 | $49,797 | $54,583 |
| 8 | Jefferson City, MO | $58,220 | $47,161 | $53,607 |
| 186 | Portland, ME | $48,470 | $39,036 | $38,324 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 286 metros →
Construction Laborer salaries elsewhere in Maine
- Bangor, ME — $44,420
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Portland, ME?
The median construction laborer salary in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area is $48,470 a year, or about $23.30 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,710 and $57,120.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Portland, ME?
On the median $48,470 salary, a single filer living in Maine takes home about $39,036 a year ($3,253 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,090 in Maine taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, ME a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 1.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,324 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, ME ranks #186 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer 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) — 48% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, ME
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $79,280
- Electrician — $71,660
- Sheet Metal Worker — $66,070
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $64,500
- Carpenter — $64,300
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $63,120
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $59,530
- Highway Maintenance Worker — $51,600
- Helpers--Electrician — $46,530