How Much Does a CNA Make in South Portland, ME in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in South Portland, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Maine.
BLS OES May 2025 · Portland · South Portland metro area
A typical CNA in South Portland, Maine earns $23.17 per hour, or $48,180 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,015 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $41,280, and the top 10% of earners make over $58,790.
That pay is 2% above the Maine figure of $47,070 and 14% above the national figure of $42,260. South Portland ranks 2nd of 3 metro areas in Maine for CNA pay. About 3,380 CNAs work in the Portland · South Portland area. South Portland is part of the Portland · South Portland metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Portland share these figures.
CNA pay in South Portland at a glance
- Typical pay is $23.17 an hour, or $48,180 a year.
- That is 2% above the Maine figure, ranking 2nd of 3 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $41,280; the top 10% make over $58,790.
- Typical pay rose +75% from 2015 to 2025, against +92% for Maine as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in South Portland?
Pay in South Portland runs from entry-level positions at around $19.85 an hour to more than $28.27 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Maine and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in South Portland
| Career stage | South Portland | Maine | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $41,280$19.85 an hour | $39,100$18.80 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $45,840$22.04 an hour | $44,200$21.25 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $48,180$23.17 an hour | $47,070$22.63 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $50,390$24.23 an hour | $50,190$24.13 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $58,790$28.27 an hour | $58,120$27.94 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Portland · South Portland area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in South Portland
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Portland · South Portland area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in South Portland was $27,480 a year. By 2025 it had reached $48,180, a change of +75%, compared with +92% for Maine over the same years.
How South Portland compares with other Maine cities
Lewiston pays CNAs the most in Maine at $48,570 a year, $390 more than South Portland. The lowest-paying area in the state is Bangor at $46,970.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs South Portland | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lewiston metro incl. Auburn | $48,570 | $23.35 | +1% | 690 |
| 2 | South Portland metro incl. Portland | $48,180 | $23.17 | this city | 3,380 |
| 3 | Bangor | $46,970 | $22.58 | -3% | 1,110 |
Every metro area in Maine with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Maine typical pay $47,070
Is South Portland a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in South Portland earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $48,180 a year, 14% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Portland · South Portland area, about 12 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. That makes the local economy more reliant on CNAs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in South Portland, ME?
- A typical CNA in South Portland earns $48,180 a year, or $23.17 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $41,280 and the top 10% earn over $58,790.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in South Portland?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in South Portland is $23.17. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $19.85, and the top 10% earn over $28.27 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in South Portland?
- Entry-level CNA positions in South Portland typically offer around $19.85 an hour, or $41,280 a year.
- Is CNA pay in South Portland higher than in the rest of Maine?
- South Portland pay is 2% above the Maine figure of $47,070 a year, ranking 2nd of 3 metro areas in the state. Lewiston pays the most in Maine at $48,570.