Portland-South Portland, ME · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Portland-South Portland, ME

In the Portland-South Portland, ME metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $47,500 ($22.84/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $39,900/year and the 90th was $52,000/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Maine tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $38,809 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 101.9 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$47,500$22.84 per hour · $3,958 monthly
10th Percentile$39,900$19.18/hr base
25th Percentile$41,800$20.10/hr base
75th Percentile$50,100$24.09/hr base
90th Percentile$52,000$25.00/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

$47,500
$15,000$95,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$47,500
Net 82%
Fed 7%
ME 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$38,809After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,234Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,493Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate18.3%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$3,520 / yr
Maine state income tax$1,537 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,634 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Portland-South Portland, 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 Portland-South Portland, ME Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (ME)
10th Percentile$19.18/hr$3,325$39,900$33,143
25th Percentile$20.10/hr$3,483$41,800$34,560
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$22.84/hr$3,958$47,500$38,809
75th Percentile$24.09/hr$4,175$50,100$40,731
90th Percentile$25.00/hr$4,333$52,000$42,130

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Portland-South Portland, ME

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$47,500 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$92,175Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index101.91.9% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio51.5%of area median income

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Portland-South Portland, ME

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Portland-South Portland, ME?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Portland-South Portland, ME is $47,500, which equates to approximately $3,958 per month or $22.84 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Portland-South Portland, ME?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Portland-South Portland, ME is $22.84 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $19.18/hour and one in ten earned more than $25.00/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Portland-South Portland, ME?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Portland-South Portland, ME span from $39,900 at the 10th percentile to $41,800 at the 25th, $50,100 at the 75th, and $52,000 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Portland-South Portland, ME?

On a median gross salary of $47,500, an estimated $38,809 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,493 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Maine in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $8,691 (an effective rate of 18.3%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Portland-South Portland, ME?

On the median annual salary of $47,500, gross monthly income is $3,958. After federal, FICA, and Maine state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,234 per month (or $1,493 every two weeks).

Is $47,500 a good salary in Portland-South Portland, ME?

At $47,500, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 51.5% of the Portland-South Portland, ME median household income ($92,175). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 101.9, making regional consumer goods and services 1.9% more expensive than the U.S. average.