Highway Maintenance Worker Salary in Portland, ME
Highway Maintenance Workers in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area earn a median $51,600 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,339 take-home, or $3,445 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median highway maintenance worker salary in Portland, ME. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,012
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,199
- Medicare (1.45%)$748
- Maine income tax$2,301
- Take-home pay$41,339
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.75% state
Highway Maintenance Worker pay by experience in Portland, ME
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,820 | $18.66 | $31,912 | $2,659 |
| 25th percentile | $48,770 | $23.45 | $39,256 | $3,271 |
| Median (50th) | $51,600 | $24.81 | $41,339 | $3,445 |
| 75th percentile | $59,440 | $28.58 | $47,110 | $3,926 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $69,160 | $33.25 | $53,997 | $4,500 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maine resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,600 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 highway maintenance worker's $41,339 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,585 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 1.8× the national concentration of highway maintenance worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for highway maintenance workers, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, ME ranks #37 of 49 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $76,220 | $58,823 | $56,781 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $75,030 | $61,614 | $55,441 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $60,900 | $49,451 | $53,926 |
| 4 | Madison, WI | $63,530 | $51,212 | $52,640 |
| 5 | Hartford, CT | $66,310 | $53,388 | $51,961 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $60,660 | $49,032 | $50,582 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $63,650 | $50,518 | $48,194 |
| 8 | Rochester, NY | $58,470 | $46,600 | $48,024 |
| 37 | Portland, ME | $51,600 | $41,339 | $40,585 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 49 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a highway maintenance worker make in Portland, ME?
The median highway maintenance worker salary in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area is $51,600 a year, or about $24.81 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,770 and $59,440.
What is a highway maintenance worker’s take-home pay in Portland, ME?
On the median $51,600 salary, a single filer living in Maine takes home about $41,339 a year ($3,445 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,301 in Maine taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, ME a good place to work as a highway maintenance worker?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $50,260. Local prices are 1.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,585 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, ME ranks #37 of 49 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a highway maintenance 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) — 45% of a median highway maintenance worker’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
- Construction Laborer — $48,470
- Helpers--Electrician — $46,530