Human Resources Specialist Salary in Portland, ME
Human Resources Specialists in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area earn a median $78,100 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $59,683 take-home, or $4,974 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median human resources specialist salary in Portland, ME. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,352
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,842
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,132
- Maine income tax$4,090
- Take-home pay$59,683
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 6.75% state
Human Resources Specialist pay by experience in Portland, ME
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,060 | $23.11 | $38,734 | $3,228 |
| 25th percentile | $60,940 | $29.30 | $48,214 | $4,018 |
| Median (50th) | $78,100 | $37.55 | $59,683 | $4,974 |
| 75th percentile | $95,320 | $45.83 | $70,568 | $5,881 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $112,260 | $53.97 | $81,274 | $6,773 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maine resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,100 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 human resources specialist's $59,683 take-home pay has the buying power of $58,595 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Human Resources Specialist jobs are less concentrated in Portland, ME than nationally (location quotient 0.78), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for human resources specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, ME ranks #98 of 217 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parkersburg, WV | $94,520 | $71,704 | $82,356 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $112,140 | $80,063 | $72,506 |
| 3 | Davenport, IA | $79,670 | $62,502 | $70,165 |
| 4 | Rochester, MN | $83,810 | $63,615 | $70,044 |
| 5 | Fargo, ND | $76,550 | $62,449 | $68,723 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $90,290 | $72,349 | $68,508 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $100,830 | $74,162 | $68,111 |
| 8 | Elizabethtown, KY | $78,850 | $61,659 | $68,077 |
| 98 | Portland, ME | $78,100 | $59,683 | $58,595 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 217 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a human resources specialist make in Portland, ME?
The median human resources specialist salary in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area is $78,100 a year, or about $37.55 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,940 and $95,320.
What is a human resources specialist’s take-home pay in Portland, ME?
On the median $78,100 salary, a single filer living in Maine takes home about $59,683 a year ($4,974 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,090 in Maine taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, ME a good place to work as a human resources specialist?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $75,940. Local prices are 1.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $58,595 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, ME ranks #98 of 217 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a human resources specialist 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) — 31% of a median human resources specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, ME
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- Personal Financial Advisor — $97,960
- Compliance Officer — $92,790
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $86,530
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $82,460
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $80,950
- Accountant and Auditor — $79,790
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $73,420
- Training and Development Specialist — $62,420