Waiter and Waitress Salary in Lewiston, ME
Waiters and Waitresses in the Lewiston-Auburn, ME metro area earn a median $43,130 a year — 22% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,105 take-home, or $2,925 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Lewiston, ME. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,996
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,674
- Medicare (1.45%)$625
- Maine income tax$1,730
- Take-home pay$35,105
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.75% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Lewiston, ME
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,470 | $14.65 | $25,687 | $2,141 |
| 25th percentile | $34,070 | $16.38 | $28,371 | $2,364 |
| Median (50th) | $43,130 | $20.74 | $35,105 | $2,925 |
| 75th percentile | $62,170 | $29.89 | $49,119 | $4,093 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,540 | $38.72 | $61,227 | $5,102 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maine resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,130 buys in Lewiston, ME
Prices in Lewiston, ME are 5.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 31% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $35,105 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,056 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Waiter and Waitress jobs are less concentrated in Lewiston, ME than nationally (location quotient 0.65), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Lewiston, ME ranks #37 of 375 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $82,550 | $62,160 | $56,823 |
| 2 | Burlington, VT | $61,620 | $50,061 | $49,591 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $56,700 | $47,738 | $46,198 |
| 4 | Bremerton, WA | $55,270 | $46,589 | $44,116 |
| 5 | Mount Vernon, WA | $53,060 | $44,814 | $43,745 |
| 6 | Yakima, WA | $49,060 | $41,600 | $43,539 |
| 7 | Kennewick, WA | $51,460 | $43,528 | $43,494 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 37 | Lewiston, ME | $43,130 | $35,105 | $37,056 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 375 metros →
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Maine
- Bangor, ME — $45,610
- Portland, ME — $44,070
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Lewiston, ME?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Lewiston-Auburn, ME metro area is $43,130 a year, or about $20.74 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,070 and $62,170.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Lewiston, ME?
On the median $43,130 salary, a single filer living in Maine takes home about $35,105 a year ($2,925 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,730 in Maine taxes in 2026.
Is Lewiston, ME a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 22% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 5.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,056 would in a typical U.S. city. Lewiston, ME ranks #37 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Lewiston, ME?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lewiston, ME is $1,218 a month ($1,586 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Lewiston, ME
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,720