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

Restaurant Cook Salary in Lewiston-Auburn, ME

In the Lewiston-Auburn, ME metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $44,200 ($21.25/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,100/year and the 90th was $48,300/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Maine tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $36,349 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 94.7 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$44,200$21.25 per hour · $3,683 monthly
10th Percentile$37,100$17.84/hr base
25th Percentile$38,900$18.70/hr base
75th Percentile$46,600$22.40/hr base
90th Percentile$48,300$23.22/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

$44,200
$15,000$90,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$44,200
Net 82%
Fed 7%
ME 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$36,349After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,029Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,398Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate17.8%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$3,124 / yr
Maine state income tax$1,346 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,381 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant 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 Cooks, Restaurant in the Lewiston-Auburn, ME Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (ME)
10th Percentile$17.84/hr$3,092$37,100$31,056
25th Percentile$18.70/hr$3,242$38,900$32,398
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$21.25/hr$3,683$44,200$36,349
75th Percentile$22.40/hr$3,883$46,600$38,138
90th Percentile$23.22/hr$4,025$48,300$39,406

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

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$44,200 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 Ratio65.1%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Maine:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Lewiston-Auburn, ME

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Lewiston-Auburn, ME?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Lewiston-Auburn, ME is $44,200, which equates to approximately $3,683 per month or $21.25 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Lewiston-Auburn, ME?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Lewiston-Auburn, ME is $21.25 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $17.84/hour and one in ten earned more than $23.22/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Lewiston-Auburn, ME?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Lewiston-Auburn, ME span from $37,100 at the 10th percentile to $38,900 at the 25th, $46,600 at the 75th, and $48,300 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Lewiston-Auburn, ME?

On a median gross salary of $44,200, an estimated $36,349 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,398 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Maine in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $7,851 (an effective rate of 17.8%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Lewiston-Auburn, ME?

On the median annual salary of $44,200, gross monthly income is $3,683. After federal, FICA, and Maine state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,029 per month (or $1,398 every two weeks).

Is $44,200 a good salary in Lewiston-Auburn, ME?

At $44,200, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 65.1% 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.