2026 Tax Year · Single Filer · Maine

$15 an Hour in Maine — After-Tax Take-Home (2026)

At $15/hour (2,080 hours/year), your gross annual income is $31,200. After federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and Maine state income tax, your take-home pay is $12.68/hr. In Maine's medium cost-of-living environment, this is below what's needed for comfortable living in Maine.

Gross Annual

$31,200

Net Annual
$26,373

Net Monthly

$2,198

Net Hourly

$12.68

Pay Period Breakdown

Hourly $15.00 $2.32 $12.68

Daily (8 hrs) $120.00 $18.56 $101.44

Weekly (40 hrs) $600.00 $92.82 $507.18

Biweekly $1,200.00 $185.64 $1,014.36

Monthly $2,600.00 $402.22 $2,197.78

Annual $31,200 $4,827 $26,373

Full Tax Breakdown — Maine, Single Filer

Gross Annual Income $15/hr × 2,080 hrs $31,200

Federal Standard Deduction Single 2026 −$16,100

Federal Taxable Income $15,100

Federal Income Tax 5.0% −$1,564.00

Social Security (6.2%) up to $184,500 −$1,934.40

Medicare (1.45%) −$452.40

Maine Standard Deduction Single 2026 −$16,100

Maine State Income Tax 2.8% −$875.80

Total Tax 15.5% effective −$4,826.60

Net Take-Home $26,373

How Does Maine Compare?

See how $15/hr take-home differs in other states at the same wage:

California $422.38 $2,236/mo $26,827 Florida None $2,271/mo $27,249 New York $958.25 $2,191/mo $26,291 Texas None $2,271/mo $27,249 Washington None $2,271/mo $27,249

Open Full Calculator for Maine — $15/hr →

Equivalent Annual Salary Pages

$15/hr = $31,200/year gross. See the full state-by-state salary breakdown:

Adjacent Rates in Maine

Same Rate, Other States

Cost of Living in Maine

✗ Difficult — $15/hr falls short in Maine

Avg 1BR rent in Portland: $1,300/mo — over the 30% rule (50% of gross monthly)
Minimum comfortable income in Maine: $42,000/yr
Your net annual: $26,373 ($15,627 below comfortable threshold)
Purchasing power equivalent in Texas: ~$15/hr

Working at $15/hr in Maine

Maine's minimum wage of $14.65 means this wage is close to the floor. Portland's rental market has tightened significantly — 1BR rents average $1,300/month in a city that was much more affordable a decade ago. Rural Maine remains affordable but lacks job density.

At $15/hr, you work roughly 103 hours each month to cover a typical 1BR in Portland ($1,300/mo) -- that's above the 30% gross income guideline. This wage is 1.0x Maine's minimum wage of $14.65/hr. Your combined effective tax rate at $15/hr in Maine is 15.5% -- federal income tax accounts for 5.0%, FICA 7.7%, and Maine state tax 2.8%.

Maine's economy is driven by tourism, fishing, forestry, healthcare, and a growing remote-work population. Portland has emerged as a foodie and creative economy hub. The state struggles with an aging population and workforce shortages in many sectors.

Maine has a progressive income tax with a top rate of 7.15%. The state mirrors the federal standard deduction. Maine also has significant property taxes, especially in coastal areas.

Maine's minimum wage is $14.65/hr (2026), indexed to inflation.

Monthly Budget on $15/hr in Maine

Based on $2,198/month take-home. Percentages follow common 50/30/20 guidelines adjusted for Maine's cost of living.

Rent / Housing $1,300 $15,600 59.2%

Food (groceries + dining) $264 $3,168 12.0%

Transportation $220 $2,640 10.0%

Utilities $132 $1,584 6.0%

Healthcare $110 $1,320 5.0%

Entertainment $110 $1,320 5.0%

Savings (10% target) $220 $2,640 10.0%

Remaining / Surplus $-158 $-1,896 -7.2%

⚠ This budget is underwater — rent alone exceeds the 30% guideline in Maine at $15/hr. Consider roommates, lower-cost areas, or targeting a higher wage to reach balance.

Overtime Pay — $15/hr in Maine

At time-and-a-half ($22.50/hr), here's what overtime adds to your annual net income in Maine. Your marginal tax rate at this income level is ~19.3%.

5 hrs/week $113 $91 $4,550

10 hrs/week $225 $182 $9,100

20 hrs/week $450 $363 $18,150

Hours to Afford Common Purchases at $15/hr

How many hours of work (gross) to buy common items. Actual cost in after-tax hours is higher — divide by your $12.68 net hourly rate for the true cost in time.

Tank of gas (12 gal) $50 3.4 hrs 4 hrs

Week of groceries $120 8 hrs 9.5 hrs

iPhone 16 (base) $799 53.3 hrs 63.1 hrs

1 month rent (Portland) $1,300 86.7 hrs 102.6 hrs

Used car ($10k) $10,000 666.7 hrs 788.7 hrs

Median new car ($48k) $48,000 3200 hrs 3785.7 hrs

What Jobs Pay $15/hr in Maine?

At $15/hour, you earn 35% below the estimated median hourly wage in Maine. Jobs that commonly pay around this rate include:

barista, home health aide, security guard, warehouse associate, hotel front desk agent, call center representative

These figures reflect statewide averages for Maine. The Portland metro area typically pays 12% more than rural parts of the state for the same role. Specialized certifications, union membership, or government employment at this wage tier often add meaningful benefits that raise total compensation above the base hourly figure.

At 15/hr in Maine, your net income of $26,373 falls $15,627 short of the estimated $42,000 comfortable living threshold. Roommates, a side income, or a wage increase would significantly improve financial stability.

Geographic Wage Variation Within Maine

The $15/hr figure reflects a statewide average. Wages for the same job title can differ significantly by location within Maine. The Portland metro area generally commands a 12% premium over the state average, while rural areas typically pay 6% less.

Portland metro$16.8/hr+12%Higher pay, higher COL

Maine average$15/hrBaselineThis page's figures

Rural Maine$14.1/hr-6%Lower pay, lower COL

When choosing between metro and rural Maine at this wage tier, compare net monthly surplus rather than gross hourly rates. Rural areas have lower rent, shorter commutes, and lower day-to-day costs -- the purchasing power difference is often smaller than the raw wage gap suggests.

Savings Goals at $15/hr in Maine

Saving $220/month (10% of net), here is how long it takes to reach common financial milestones from a starting balance of zero:

Weekend getaway$3,00014 monthsFlights + hotel, domestic

3-month emergency fund$6,07828 monthsCore expenses only

6-month emergency fund$12,15656 monthsFull financial cushion

Used car (no loan)$8,00037 monthsReliable used vehicle

New car down payment$25,000114 months~50% down to minimize payments

Home down payment$6,30029 months10% on a starter home in Maine

At 15/hr in Maine, hitting these savings goals requires strict discipline. Track expenses for 30 days to identify spending leaks -- small cuts in food and entertainment often free up $100-$200/month without affecting quality of life.

Debt Payoff on $15/hr in Maine

Allocating 15% of net monthly income ($330/month) toward debt repayment is sustainable while still allowing for savings and essentials.

Credit card$5,000$33016 months

Student loan$30,000$33091 months

These timelines exclude interest, which meaningfully extends payoff for high-APR credit cards. Prioritize high-interest debt first. Even an extra $50/month toward a credit card balance can cut months off your payoff timeline and save hundreds in interest.

401(k) and Retirement at $15/hr

Contributing 6% ($1,872/year) to a pre-tax 401(k) saves you $333 in taxes at your 17.8% marginal rate -- your actual out-of-pocket cost is only $1,539/year. If your employer matches up to 6%, that match is $1,872 in additional annual compensation -- never leave it uncaptured.

Saving $2,640/year and investing at a 7% average annual return builds significant wealth over time:

5 years$13,200$13,992$792 interest

10 years$26,400$28,063$1,663 interest

20 years$52,800$56,602$3,802 interest

What Would a Raise Mean at $15/hr in Maine?

A $1/hr raise adds $1,680 to your annual net take-home in Maine after taxes. Your marginal rate on additional income is approximately 19.3%, so you keep 80.8% of every extra dollar earned.

$1/hr raise$16/hr$1,680$140

5% raise$15.8/hr$1,344$112

10% raise$16.5/hr$2,519$210

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 15 an hour a good wage in Maine?

15/hr in Maine gives you $26,373/year after taxes -- below what's needed for comfortable living in Maine. Avg 1BR rent in Portland: $1,300/month (exceeds the 30% rule). It places you 35% below the estimated state median wage.

What is 15 an hour after taxes in Maine?

15/hr in Maine = $26,373/year or $2,198/month net. Effective tax rate: 15.5%, made up of 5.0% federal, 7.7% FICA, and 2.8% Maine state tax.

What jobs pay 15 an hour in Maine?

Common roles at 15/hr in Maine include cashier, food service worker, retail associate. Metro areas like Portland typically pay 12% more for the same role.

How does 15/hr go further -- Maine or Texas?

15/hr in Maine has similar purchasing power to ~15/hr in Texas. Maine state income tax reduces take-home vs Texas.

How long to build an emergency fund at 15/hr in Maine?

Saving $220/month (10% of net), you reach a 3-month emergency fund of $6,078 in 28 months. A 6-month fund takes 56 months.

What does a 401(k) cost at 15/hr in Maine?

A 6% contribution ($1,872/year) saves $333 in taxes at your 17.8% marginal rate. Your net out-of-pocket cost is only $1,539/year -- and if your employer matches, it is essentially free money.

What does a $1/hr raise mean at 15/hr in Maine?

A $1/hr raise adds $1,680/year to your net take-home in Maine after the 19.3% marginal tax rate. You keep 80.8% of every additional dollar earned.

What is the effective tax rate at 15/hr in Maine?

At 15/hr in Maine, your total effective tax rate is 15.5%: federal income tax 5.0%, Social Security 6.2%, Medicare 1.5%, and Maine state tax 2.8%. You keep 84.5% of every gross dollar.

Can you afford rent in Portland on 15/hr?

The average 1BR in Portland is $1,300/month. At 15/hr, rent consumes 50% of your gross monthly pay -- above the 30% affordability guideline. Your net hourly rate of $12.68 means you work 103 hours per month to cover rent.

What does 15/hr look like as an annual salary?

15/hr times 2,080 hours equals $31,200/year gross. After all taxes in Maine, your net annual income is $26,373 -- an effective take-home rate of 84.5%.