Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Portland, ME
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area earn a median $35,300 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,288 take-home, or $2,441 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Portland, ME. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,056
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,189
- Medicare (1.45%)$512
- Maine income tax$1,256
- Take-home pay$29,288
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.80% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Portland, ME
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,190 | $15.00 | $26,224 | $2,185 |
| 25th percentile | $33,850 | $16.27 | $28,207 | $2,351 |
| Median (50th) | $35,300 | $16.97 | $29,288 | $2,441 |
| 75th percentile | $37,560 | $18.06 | $30,973 | $2,581 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,990 | $20.67 | $35,002 | $2,917 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maine resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,300 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 fast food and counter worker's $29,288 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,754 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Fast Food and Counter Worker jobs are about as common in Portland, ME as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.12).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, ME ranks #49 of 241 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Modesto, CA | $42,630 | $35,184 | $33,796 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $44,110 | $36,295 | $33,458 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $43,610 | $35,920 | $33,326 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $44,570 | $36,640 | $33,182 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $42,860 | $35,357 | $33,146 |
| 6 | Stockton, CA | $41,740 | $34,517 | $32,845 |
| 7 | Riverside, CA | $42,280 | $34,922 | $32,808 |
| 8 | Salinas, CA | $43,260 | $35,657 | $32,701 |
| 49 | Portland, ME | $35,300 | $29,288 | $28,754 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 241 metros →
About the job: fast food and counter workers
Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages. Counter attendants who also wait tables are included in "Waiters and Waitresses" (35-3031),
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.8% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Fast Food and Counter Worker salaries elsewhere in Maine
- Bangor, ME — $34,140
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Portland, ME?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area is $35,300 a year, or about $16.97 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,850 and $37,560.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Portland, ME?
On the median $35,300 salary, a single filer living in Maine takes home about $29,288 a year ($2,441 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,256 in Maine taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, ME a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 1.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,754 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, ME ranks #49 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker 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) — 63% of a median fast food and counter worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, ME
- Cooks, Restaurant — $46,560
- Waiter and Waitress — $44,070