Lawyers Salary
Lawyers in Maine make a median of $113,120 a year, or about $54.39 an hour. The range runs from $77K at the entry level to $216K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.7), that's roughly $115,783 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,281/month, or 18.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maine. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $113K get you in Maine?
About lawyers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Maine
Pay for lawyers in Maine runs about 29% below the U.S. median of $160K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,281/month, 18.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97.7) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Maine can be a reasonable trade-off for lawyerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maine
Entry-level lawyers (10th percentile) start around $77K. Mid-career wages sit at $113K. Top earners bring in $216K or more, a $139K spread from bottom to top.
Lawyers salary by metro in Maine
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland | $130K | +15% | 1,360 |
| Bangor | $116K | +3% | 210 |
| Lewiston-Auburn | $105K | -7% | 150 |
Compare to other states
Track lawyers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maine numbers change.
Related careers in Legal
Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maine?
Yes — at the median salary of $113K, rent takes 18.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,281/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for lawyers in Maine?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new lawyers typically earn — is $77K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,609/month. At HUD’s $1,281/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is lawyer a high-paying job in Maine?
Local pay runs 29% below the national median — $113K here vs. $160K nationally.
How does Maine compare to the national average for lawyers?
Maine pays $113K median vs. the U.S. average of $160K — that’s -29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $116K — below the national median.
How much do lawyers make in Maine?
The median is $113,120 a year, that works out to about $54 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $76,820, and experienced lawyers can clear $215,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $113K enough to live in Maine?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,782/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,281/month, which eats 18.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a lawyers salary go in Maine?
Maine has a Regional Price Parity of 97.7 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median lawyers salary is worth about $115,783 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do lawyers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.