Cooks, Fast Food pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,950 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in Portland earn between $34,700 and $39,660.
- $34K10th
- $35K25th
- $36KMedian
- $40K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,850 | $3,154 | $18.20 |
| Median | $36,310 | $3,026 | $17.46 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,700 | $2,892 | $16.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $39,660 | $3,305 | $19.07 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Portland vs. Maine and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in Portland earn 3% more than the Maine average ($36,740) and 17% more than the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is +18% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $37,850 | $36,310 | $33,770 | $46,950 | 500 |
| Maine | $36,740 | $36,350 | $31,350 | $44,280 | 1,470 |
| United States | $32,390 | $30,890 | $22,580 | $42,910 | 641,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Fast Food salary after taxes in Portland
On the average salary of $37,850, a single filer in Portland takes home about $31,615 a year, or $2,635 a month and $1,216 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Is Portland a good place for cooks, fast food? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.9), so the average $37,850 buys what about $37,160 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($56,960). A typical home costs $542,063, or 14.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other Maine cities
Portland ranks 1st of 3 Maine metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
Highest-paying cities for cooks, fast food
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($46,590).
- San Francisco, CA$46,590
- San Jose, CA$46,530
- Vallejo, CA$44,360
- Napa, CA$43,910
- Seattle, WA$43,770
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Cooks, Fast Food salary in Portland: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in Portland?
$18.20 an hour on average, and $17.46 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,700, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in Portland?
About $31,615 a year ($2,635 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,850. Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Do cooks, fast food earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% more than the U.S. average for this job ($32,390).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2011; area Portland-South Portland, ME (38860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.42, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.42).
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