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State profile · NCES F-33 FY2023

Teacher Salary in Maine

Maine is in the smallest third by reported enrollment (166,010 students) among states with NCES enrollment. According to the NCES Common Core of Data finance survey, estimated teacher pay and per-pupil spending are available for every public school district in Maine.

$62,872
Est. state avg salary

Below benchmark

-10.5%
vs national
#34
National rank
183
Districts

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$62,872/year (est.)

Maine is in the smallest third by reported enrollment (166,010 students) among states with NCES enrollment. Estimated average teacher salary is $62,872, materially below the national average of $70,245, ranking #34 of 49, across 119 public school districts with reliable data (NCES CCD F-33, FY2023).

  • Smaller K-12 enrollment scale: Maine is in the smallest third by reported enrollment (166,010 students) among states with NCES enrollment.
  • lower third nationally (#34 of 49)
  • Maine ranks #34 of 49 on the salary estimate and #40 of 49 on enrollment in the same reliable-district pool.
  • $46,838 spread between its highest- and lowest-paying districts
  • -10.5% vs the national average
  • +20.0% estimated-basis panel FY2019→FY2023 (balanced cohort, not the FTE average above)
  • #37 of 49 purchasing-power-adjusted (BEA RPP 98.0)

Same-district trend

How does a balanced panel separate change from district turnover?

For the same 153 Maine districts present with valid estimates in every release, the average state figure moved from $72,440 in FY2019 to $86,903 in FY2023 (+20.0%).

The fixed cohort prevents entering or missing districts from masquerading as salary movement. It is still a change in a derived district-level estimate, not evidence of any individual teacher's raise.

Maine purchasing-power check on lower-third pay

Maine's nominal average teacher salary ranks #34 of the 49 states and territories that report teacher salaries. Adjusted by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis's 2023 Regional Price Parity (98.0, US = 100, a relative state-level price-level index, not a district or metro cost-of-living figure), the estimate becomes $66,978, ranking #37 of 49 , 3 places lower than the nominal rank once relative price levels are factored in. This purchasing-power view is not published by NEA's teacher-pay rankings or the aggregator sites; it comes from combining our own F-33-derived salary estimate with BEA's public RPP series. See the full 51-state release for methodology and download. BEA Regional Price Parities · NCES CCD F-33

Maine in the teacher-salary distribution

FY2023 estimated state averages from the same NCES-derived ranking

$62,872 31st percentile higher than 31% of 49 reporting states and territories

Show national distribution $0–$5,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $5,000–$10,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $10,000–$15,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$25,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $40,000–$45,000: 1 reporting states and territories (2%). Below this entry. $45,000–$50,000: 2 reporting states and territories (4%). Below this entry. $50,000–$55,000: 6 reporting states and territories (12%). Below this entry. $55,000–$60,000: 5 reporting states and territories (10%). Below this entry. $60,000–$65,000: 9 reporting states and territories (18%). This entry sits in this band. $65,000–$70,000: 7 reporting states and territories (14%). Above this entry. $70,000–$75,000: 2 reporting states and territories (4%). Above this entry. $75,000–$80,000: 4 reporting states and territories (8%). Above this entry. $80,000–$85,000: 5 reporting states and territories (10%). Above this entry. $85,000–$90,000: 5 reporting states and territories (10%). Above this entry. $90,000–$95,000: 1 reporting states and territories (2%). Above this entry. $95,000–$100,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Above this entry. $100,000–$105,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Above this entry. $105,000–$110,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Above this entry. $110,000–$115,000: 1 reporting states and territories (2%). Above this entry. $115,000–$120,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Above this entry. $120,000–$125,000: 1 reporting states and territories (2%). Above this entry. Maine $0 $125,000 reporting state salary estimates, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more reporting states and territories. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey; state estimates derived from reported instructional-salary expenditure and teacher FTE · FY2023

Maine's comparable salary trend

Same reporting-district cohort, FY2019-FY2023

FY2023 estimated average
$86,903 19.965081222327267% vs FY2019
153 districts held in the panel
$70,000$75,000$80,000$85,000$90,000 FY2019FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023 Maine est. avg teacher salary, FY2019: $72,440Maine est. avg teacher salary, FY2020: $74,091Maine est. avg teacher salary, FY2021: $81,093Maine est. avg teacher salary, FY2022: $84,188Maine est. avg teacher salary, FY2023: $86,903 $72,440 $86,903 ▲ +20.0%
Read the chart as text
Period Maine est. avg teacher salary
FY2019 $72,440
FY2020 $74,091
FY2021 $81,093
FY2022 $84,188
FY2023 $86,903

Highest-paying districts in Maine

Estimated average teacher salary, enrolling districts (200+ students)

Est. avg salary

What this shows Cape Elizabeth Public Schools leads Maine on the F-33 instructional-salary estimate. Service entities (CTCs, county offices) are excluded, their enrollment-based ratios are not reliable salary figures.

Source NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, FY2023 As of FY2023

Top 3 districts

1 $90,864

Cape Elizabeth Public Schools

Est. avg teacher salary
2 $88,770

Scarborough Public Schools

Est. avg teacher salary
3 $86,287

Yarmouth Schools

Est. avg teacher salary

Districts by Estimated Teacher Salary

District Est. Avg Salary Enrollment Per-Pupil Exp
Cape Elizabeth Public Schools $90,864 1,509 $21,275
Scarborough Public Schools $88,770 2,891 $22,218
Yarmouth Schools $86,287 1,679 $22,213
York Public Schools $82,236 1,537 $26,023
Falmouth Public Schools $81,444 1,989 $23,323
Wells-Ogunquit CSD $80,248 1,407 $20,871
Five Town CSD $78,362 719 $20,572
Brunswick Public Schools $78,321 2,363 $22,045
Saco Public Schools $78,039 1,897 $27,896
RSU 75/MSAD 75 $77,452 2,380 $20,589
RSU 51/MSAD 51 $76,524 2,153 $21,678
RSU 35/MSAD 35 $76,281 2,134 $18,423
Gorham Public Schools $75,363 2,737 $19,300
Bangor Public Schools $74,432 3,454 $18,287
RSU 28/MSAD 28 $74,184 738 $24,458
Portland Public Schools $73,551 6,475 $23,132
RSU 21 $73,405 2,301 $26,490
South Portland Public Schools $73,148 3,081 $29,695
RSU 01 - Lkrsu $72,360 1,761 $25,680
Brewer Public Schools $71,624 1,604 $17,458
RSU 05 $71,410 2,069 $18,367
RSU 53/MSAD 53 $71,047 595 $24,608
Kittery Public Schools $71,037 959 $22,721
Biddeford Public Schools $70,305 2,314 $20,888
Lewiston Public Schools $69,872 5,083 $21,419
Glenburn Public Schools $69,834 384 $24,914
Great Salt Bay CSD $68,750 407 $18,118
Boothbay-Boothbay Hbr CSD $68,655 498 $29,757
RSU 23 $68,228 666 $28,595
Madawaska Public Schools $67,780 403 $23,362
Mt Desert CSD $67,546 495 $26,206
RSU 61/MSAD 61 $67,235 1,670 $22,060
RSU 40/MSAD 40 $66,968 1,800 $20,461
RSU 14 $66,886 3,143 $19,465
RSU 32/MSAD 32 $66,738 232 $23,422
RSU 34 $65,366 1,425 $20,062
MSAD 27 $65,166 818 $18,724
Winslow Schools $65,018 1,069 $21,308
Auburn Public Schools $64,880 3,219 $33,741
Acton Public Schools $64,818 246 $27,407
Westbrook Public Schools $64,591 2,335 $23,235
RSU 13 $64,575 1,538 $24,975
RSU 88/MSAD 24 $64,361 261 $22,483
RSU 29/MSAD 29 $64,188 1,267 $15,978
RSU 57/MSAD 57 $63,901 2,924 $16,717
RSU 86/MSAD 20 $63,599 482 $18,100
RSU 39 $63,555 1,220 $19,134
RSU 26 $63,506 835 $20,765
RSU 73 $63,282 1,437 $18,290
Lincolnville Public Schools $63,082 204 $20,240
RSU 10 $63,018 1,777 $22,661
Easton Public Schools $62,854 208 $20,582
RSU 15/MSAD 15 $62,849 1,835 $17,760
Sanford Public Schools $62,636 3,214 $20,172
RSU 22 $62,424 2,278 $16,479
Orrington Public Schools $62,409 361 $22,100
RSU 72/MSAD 72 $62,302 735 $30,509
RSU 20 $62,201 448 $26,326
RSU 02 $61,767 1,898 $18,640
Bar Harbor Public Schools $61,667 333 $27,165
RSU 44/MSAD 44 $61,280 690 $20,086
RSU 11/MSAD 11 $61,258 1,949 $16,610
Waterville Public Schools $61,149 1,651 $22,498
RSU 06/MSAD 06 $61,067 3,283 $18,190
Augusta Public Schools $60,370 2,213 $17,905
RSU 60/MSAD 60 $60,222 2,909 $18,454
RSU 54/MSAD 54 $60,179 2,229 $25,672
Lisbon Public Schools $60,158 1,311 $14,850
RSU 58/MSAD 58 $60,119 587 $19,603
Vassalboro Public Schools $60,074 421 $24,349
RSU 04 $60,073 1,300 $19,178
Blue Hill Public Schools $59,418 243 $27,831
St George Public Schools $59,391 209 $30,512
RSU 56 $59,383 764 $19,224
MSAD 46 $59,361 837 $21,532
RSU 19 $59,210 1,931 $18,437
RSU 16 $58,788 1,720 $16,766
RSU 18 $58,340 2,599 $17,283
RSU 37/MSAD 37 $58,095 691 $20,768
Milford Public Schools $57,821 270 $24,741
RSU 64/MSAD 64 $57,789 1,067 $15,908
RSU 63/MSAD 63 $57,691 453 $28,190
RSU 52/MSAD 52 $57,380 1,994 $16,524
Wiscasset Public Schools $57,298 461 $21,544
RSU 45/MSAD 45 $57,247 282 $19,677
RSU 59/MSAD 59 $57,100 575 $22,417
RSU 24 $57,046 822 $38,957
Hermon Public Schools $57,032 1,397 $13,550
Ellsworth Public Schools $56,934 1,328 $19,917
RSU 71 $56,683 1,451 $19,697
RSU 89 $56,505 303 $20,284
RSU 74/MSAD 74 $56,317 587 $21,942
RSU 79/MSAD 01 $56,251 1,715 $17,819
Jefferson Public Schools $56,048 235 $25,426
RSU 42/MSAD 42 $55,870 348 $19,466
RSU 67 $55,760 940 $17,123
RSU 70/MSAD 70 $55,583 500 $17,072
Baileyville Public Schools $55,577 295 $21,275
RSU 38 $55,227 1,207 $18,903
RSU 68/MSAD 68 $55,050 668 $22,073

Showing 1–100 of 119 enrolling districts. Specialized non-enrolling agencies (career/technical centers, county offices, service co-ops) are excluded from the salary ranking, their enrollment-based estimates are not reliable.

Lowest-Paying Districts in Maine

District Est. Avg Salary Enrollment
Machias Public Schools $44,026 502
East Millinocket Public Schools $47,099 242
RSU 03/MSAD 03 $48,743 1,070
RSU 49/MSAD 49 $49,579 1,895
Millinocket Public Schools $49,671 443
RSU 33/MSAD 33 $49,835 234
RSU 87/MSAD 23 $49,902 591
RSU 80/MSAD 04 $50,282 502
RSU 50 $50,426 330
RSU 41/MSAD 41 $51,130 612

Among enrolling districts (200+ students) with a reliable estimate; service entities excluded, see methodology.

Nationwide peers near Maine's smaller K-12 scale

Two nationwide peer sets for Maine: closest on estimated average teacher salary ($62,872 here) and closest on total student enrollment (166,010 here). Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not geographic containment.

Similar estimated salary

Nearest other states by unweighted district-mean teacher pay (F-33 derived, ≥5 districts with reliable estimates).

Similar enrollment

Nearest other states by NCES-reported K-12 enrollment. Salary peers above are excluded.

Compare Nearby-Ranked States

Nebraska
$63,159
Rank #31
Michigan
$63,155
Rank #32
Virginia
$63,048
Rank #33
Georgia
$61,790
Rank #35

Data: NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey + Staff Universe Survey, FY2023. Salary figures divide instructional expenditure (variable Z33) by each district's reported teacher FTE, or an estimated FTE for the small minority with no reported figure. Not individual salary data. Read our methodology.

Maine teacher salary FAQ

What is the average teacher salary in Maine?

Across 119 Maine public school districts with reliable data, the average teacher salary is $62,872 (NCES CCD F-33 reported teacher salaries divided by CCD Staff Universe Survey teacher headcounts, FY2023). It is a district-level mean derived from finance filings, so it will not match a contract-salary survey exactly, read it as a relative comparison.

Which Maine school district pays teachers the most?

Cape Elizabeth Public Schools reports the highest average teacher salary in Maine at $90,864, while Machias Public Schools sits at the lower end at $44,026.

How does Maine teacher pay compare to the national average?

Maine's average of $62,872 is materially below the national average of $70,245 (-10.5%), ranking #34 of the 49 jurisdictions with a reliable district estimate.

How many school districts are in Maine?

Maine has 183 public school districts in the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, together serving 165,891 students.

How much do teachers make in Maine?

District-average teacher pay in Maine sits in a comparatively narrow band, from $44,026 in Machias Public Schools to $90,864 in Cape Elizabeth Public Schools. With that little district-to-district spread the statewide figure is a reasonable guide to what most districts pay. These are district-wide averages from NCES CCD F-33 (FY2023), not individual salaries or pay-scale steps.

Can teachers earn $100,000 in Maine?

No Maine district with reliable data reports an estimated average teacher salary at or above $100,000; the state's highest is Cape Elizabeth Public Schools at $90,864. This is a district-wide average, not an individual salary, step, or years-of-experience figure.

How does Maine rank after adjusting for cost of living?

Within the separate enrollment-weighted state comparison, BEA's 2023 Regional Price Parity (98.0, US=100) adjusts Maine's nominal estimate of $65,614 from #35 to $66,978 and #37. The headline uses an unweighted district mean, so this does not replace it. Neither measure is take-home pay, taxes, or district/metro cost of living.

Explore Maine

Disclaimer & data sources

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainTeacher for Maine