How Much Does an RN Make in Portland, ME in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in 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 RN in Portland, Maine earns $42.53 per hour, or $88,470 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $7,373 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $78,430, and the top 10% of earners make over $106,040.
That pay is 2% above the Maine figure of $86,990 and 9% below the national figure of $97,550. Portland ranks 2nd of 3 metro areas in Maine for RN pay. About 6,970 RNs work in the Portland · South Portland area. Portland is part of the Portland · South Portland metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so South Portland share these figures.
RN pay in Portland at a glance
- Typical pay is $42.53 an hour, or $88,470 a year.
- That is 2% above the Maine figure, ranking 2nd of 3 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $78,430; the top 10% make over $106,040.
- Typical pay rose +37% from 2015 to 2025, against +38% for Maine as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Portland?
Pay in Portland runs from entry-level positions at around $37.71 an hour to more than $50.98 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Maine and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Portland
| Career stage | Portland | Maine | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $78,430$37.71 an hour | $74,160$35.65 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $82,910$39.86 an hour | $79,890$38.41 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $88,470$42.53 an hour | $86,990$41.82 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $103,900$49.95 an hour | $101,460$48.78 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $106,040$50.98 an hour | $106,950$51.42 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Portland · South Portland area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Portland
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs 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 RN pay in Portland was $64,470 a year. By 2025 it had reached $88,470, a change of +37%, compared with +38% for Maine over the same years.
How Portland compares with other Maine cities
Bangor pays RNs the most in Maine at $93,940 a year, $5,470 more than Portland. The lowest-paying area in the state is Auburn at $85,870.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Portland | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangor | $93,940 | $45.16 | +6% | 2,190 |
| 2 | Portland metro incl. South Portland | $88,470 | $42.53 | this city | 6,970 |
| 3 | Lewiston metro incl. Auburn | $85,870 | $41.29 | -3% | 1,280 |
Every metro area in Maine with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Maine typical pay $86,990
Is Portland a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Portland earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $88,470 a year, 9% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Portland · South Portland area, about 24 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. RN jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Portland, ME?
- A typical RN in Portland earns $88,470 a year, or $42.53 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $78,430 and the top 10% earn over $106,040.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Portland?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Portland is $42.53. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $37.71, and the top 10% earn over $50.98 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Portland?
- Entry-level RN positions in Portland typically offer around $37.71 an hour, or $78,430 a year.
- Is RN pay in Portland higher than in the rest of Maine?
- Portland pay is 2% above the Maine figure of $86,990 a year, ranking 2nd of 3 metro areas in the state. Bangor pays the most in Maine at $93,940.