Lewiston-Auburn, ME · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Food Preparation Worker Salary in Lewiston-Auburn, ME

In the Lewiston-Auburn, ME metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median annual wage of $35,200 ($16.92/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $30,400/year and the 90th was $45,300/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Maine tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $29,640 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 94.7 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$35,200$16.92 per hour · $2,933 monthly
10th Percentile$30,400$14.62/hr base
25th Percentile$33,000$15.87/hr base
75th Percentile$38,100$18.32/hr base
90th Percentile$45,300$21.78/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$35,200
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$35,200
Net 84%
Fed 6%
ME 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$29,640After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,470Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,140Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.8%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,044 / yr
Maine state income tax$824 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,693 / yr

Food Preparation Workers Wage Percentiles in Lewiston-Auburn, ME

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Food Preparation Workers in the Lewiston-Auburn, ME Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (ME)
10th Percentile$14.62/hr$2,533$30,400$26,061
25th Percentile$15.87/hr$2,750$33,000$28,000
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$16.92/hr$2,933$35,200$29,640
75th Percentile$18.32/hr$3,175$38,100$31,802
90th Percentile$21.78/hr$3,775$45,300$37,169

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Lewiston-Auburn, ME

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$35,200 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$67,873Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index94.75.3% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio51.9%of area median income

Compare food preparation workers salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Maine:

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Preparation Workers Pay in Lewiston-Auburn, ME

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Lewiston-Auburn, ME?

The official BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in Lewiston-Auburn, ME is $35,200, which equates to approximately $2,933 per month or $16.92 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Lewiston-Auburn, ME?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Lewiston-Auburn, ME is $16.92 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $14.62/hour and one in ten earned more than $21.78/hour.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Lewiston-Auburn, ME?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Lewiston-Auburn, ME span from $30,400 at the 10th percentile to $33,000 at the 25th, $38,100 at the 75th, and $45,300 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Lewiston-Auburn, ME?

On a median gross salary of $35,200, an estimated $29,640 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,140 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Maine in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,560 (an effective rate of 15.8%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Lewiston-Auburn, ME?

On the median annual salary of $35,200, gross monthly income is $2,933. After federal, FICA, and Maine state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,470 per month (or $1,140 every two weeks).

Is $35,200 a good salary in Lewiston-Auburn, ME?

At $35,200, the median salary for food preparation workers is 51.9% of the Lewiston-Auburn, ME median household income ($67,873). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 94.7, making regional consumer goods and services 5.3% cheaper than the U.S. average.