Tax Preparers Salary in Portland-South Portland, ME
In Portland-South Portland, ME, tax preparers earn $51,240 at the median — $24.64 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $65K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.86), that's roughly $50,304 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,130/month — about 63.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $51K get you in Portland-South Portland?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Portland-South Portland’s Regional Price Parity (101.86). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction.
About tax preparers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Portland-South Portland, ME
Entry-level tax preparers (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $65K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Tax Preparers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $77K | +52% | 80 |
| New York | $73K | +45% | 6,880 |
| California | $73K | +45% | 10,700 |
| Montana | $71K | +41% | 340 |
| Minnesota | $66K | +30% | 1,330 |
| Texas | $62K | +22% | 5,930 |
| Wyoming | $60K | +19% | 120 |
| Virginia | $59K | +17% | 2,200 |
| North Dakota | $59K | +17% | 300 |
| Massachusetts | $59K | +16% | 1,800 |
| Utah | $59K | +16% | 1,470 |
| Iowa | $57K | +14% | 600 |
| New Jersey | $56K | +12% | 2,460 |
| Rhode Island | $56K | +11% | N/A |
| Idaho | $55K | +8% | N/A |
| Vermont | $54K | +7% | N/A |
| Maine | $51K | +1% | 360 |
| South Dakota | $51K | +1% | 350 |
| Ohio | $51K | +0% | 860 |
| Oregon | $49K | -3% | 1,480 |
| Nebraska | $49K | -3% | 580 |
| Connecticut | $49K | -3% | 700 |
| Florida | $49K | -4% | 3,490 |
| North Carolina | $48K | -6% | 2,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $47K | -6% | 2,480 |
| Michigan | $47K | -7% | 2,010 |
| New Hampshire | $47K | -8% | 330 |
| Indiana | $46K | -8% | 1,660 |
| Hawaii | $46K | -9% | 180 |
| Wisconsin | $46K | -9% | 1,110 |
| Washington | $45K | -11% | 1,350 |
| Maryland | $45K | -11% | 650 |
| Kansas | $45K | -11% | 630 |
| Arizona | $44K | -14% | 2,480 |
| Missouri | $42K | -16% | 1,300 |
| Delaware | $42K | -17% | 250 |
| Georgia | $42K | -17% | 1,940 |
| Nevada | $41K | -18% | 1,210 |
| Illinois | $39K | -22% | 550 |
| New Mexico | $38K | -25% | 340 |
| Oklahoma | $38K | -25% | 1,690 |
| South Carolina | $38K | -26% | 1,490 |
| Louisiana | $37K | -26% | 840 |
| Arkansas | $36K | -29% | 670 |
| Kentucky | $36K | -29% | 870 |
| Tennessee | $36K | -30% | 1,280 |
| Alabama | $33K | -34% | 550 |
| Mississippi | $33K | -34% | 620 |
| West Virginia | $30K | -40% | 320 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track tax preparers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Portland-South Portland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do tax preparers make in Portland-South Portland, ME?
The median is $51,240 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,090, and experienced tax preparers can clear $65,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Portland-South Portland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,414/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,130/month, which eats 62.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a tax preparers salary go in Portland-South Portland?
Portland-South Portland has a Regional Price Parity of 101.86 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median tax preparers salary is worth about $50,304 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do tax preparers 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.