Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,570 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,380 or more. The middle half of food servers, nonrestaurant in Portland earn between $34,940 and $42,480.
- $32K10th
- $35K25th
- $37KMedian
- $42K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,780 | $3,232 | $18.64 |
| Median | $37,200 | $3,100 | $17.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,940 | $2,912 | $16.80 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $42,480 | $3,540 | $20.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in Portland vs. Maine and the U.S.
Food servers, nonrestaurant in Portland earn about the same as the Maine average ($38,530) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($36,140). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $38,780 | $37,200 | $31,570 | $46,380 | 280 |
| Maine | $38,530 | $37,680 | $31,570 | $45,000 | 540 |
| United States | $36,140 | $35,360 | $28,030 | $46,120 | 293,900 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary after taxes in Portland
On the average salary of $38,780, a single filer in Portland takes home about $32,308 a year, or $2,692 a month and $1,243 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% 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 food servers, nonrestaurant? 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 $38,780 buys what about $38,073 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($56,960). A typical home costs $542,063, or 14.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant 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 food servers, nonrestaurant
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($59,020).
- Kahului, HI$59,020
- San Jose, CA$50,590
- San Francisco, CA$48,600
- Napa, CA$48,550
- Vallejo, CA$46,710
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Portland: questions
How much do food servers, nonrestaurant make an hour in Portland?
$18.64 an hour on average, and $17.89 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,570 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,940, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food servers, nonrestaurant take-home pay in Portland?
About $32,308 a year ($2,692 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,780. Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Do food servers, nonrestaurant earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more than the U.S. average for this job ($36,140).
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 35-3041; area Portland-South Portland, ME (38860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 0.52, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.52).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.