Maine RN Salary - How Much Do RNs Make in ME?
The state of Maine employs approximately 13,890 registered nurses, according to May 2018 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). These nurses serve a state population of over 1,328,302. Since 2000, Maine’s population has seen steady growth. At the time when this BLS data was collected, the median annual RN salary in Maine was $61,680. This equates to approximately $29.66 per hour. These figures are marginally lower than the national average for this occupation which were $65,470 or $31.48 per hour in 2012. The cost of living in Maine is about ten percent above the national average according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC).
In 2018, Maine registered nurses with salaries above the 90th percentile earned $84,130 or more. Those with wages above the 75th percentile made more than $72,560. Registered nurses with earnings below the 25th percentile made less than $52,320, and those with earnings in the bottom tenth percentile made under $45,210 during this year.
The majority of registered nurses in Maine are employed in the metropolitan area of Portland-South Portland-Biddeford. According to the BLS, this area employed 4,510 nurses as of 2018. This area was also the highest paying in the state for registered nursing. The median salary for this area was $64,230 in 2018. RN salaries here ranged from $48,370 or less to upwards of $89,470.
The Lewiston-Auburn area had the lowest average salary in Maine, according to the 2018 data. This city employed 1,250 registered nurses. The median annual salary here was $61,480. Those with earnings above the 75th percentile made more than $69,480, and those below the 25th percentile earned under $51,860. In this area, the 90th percentile made $74,400 or more. This is about $15,000 less than the 90th percentile earned in the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area.
Education and experience are often the key to earning a higher RN salary. Nurses should pursue opportunities for career development, including specialty certifications. Salaries are also likely to vary between employers.