PlainTeacher

State profile · NCES F-33 FY2022

Teacher Salary in Maine

According to the NCES Common Core of Data finance survey, estimated teacher pay and per-pupil spending are available across 182 public school districts in Maine.

$76,891
Est. state avg salary
-10.3%
vs national
#29
National rank
182
Districts
$76,891/year (est.)

Maine's estimated average teacher salary is $76,891, materially below the national average of $85,759, ranking #29 of 51 states and territories, across 182 public school districts (NCES CCD F-33, FY2022).

  • middle third nationally (#29 of 51)
  • $53,090 spread between its highest- and lowest-paying districts
  • -10.3% vs the national average
  • +14.2% since FY2019
  • #37 of 51 purchasing-power-adjusted (BEA RPP 100.7)

What does the NCES F-33 data show for Maine?

Maine reports 182 public school districts in the NCES Common Core of Data FY2022 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, with an average teacher salary of $76,891. That places the state in the middle third of US teacher-pay rankings - #29 of 51, materially below the national average of $85,759 (-10.3%). The state's public schools serve 165,228 students across these districts. Most district figures divide total instructional spending by the district's REPORTED teacher headcount (NCES CCD Staff Universe Survey); a small number of large consolidated districts that report staffing only at a sub-district level fall back to an estimated ratio instead, since total instructional spending also includes aides and assistants, both figures run somewhat above survey-reported classroom-teacher-only salaries, treat this as a relative cross-district comparison, not an exact paycheck, and see our methodology for the formula, its data source per district, and its limits.

Among enrolling districts, pay varies widely: Cape Elizabeth Public Schools reports the highest estimated average salary at $109,216, while Blue Hill Public Schools sits at the lower end at $56,126 - a spread of $53,090 between top and bottom reporting districts. Licensing rules, state aid formulas, collective bargaining density, and local tax bases all drive this intra-state variation. Urban and suburban districts with larger tax bases typically lead, while rural districts often lag despite lower cost of living.

Teacher compensation here reflects both state policy choices, the statutory minimum salary schedule, pension funding levels, licensure reciprocity, and the funding formula that determines how much state aid each district receives per pupil. A #29 national rank signals where Maine sits in the competition for teachers against neighboring states; teacher shortage areas typically correlate with lower pay rank. Figures below are per-district averages derived from the F-33 instructional salary expenditure field (Z33) divided by each district's reported teacher FTE (or an estimated FTE for the small minority with no reported figure), a district-level aggregate, not individual salary records.

Purchasing-power-adjusted rank

Maine's nominal average teacher salary ranks #29 of 51 states and territories. Adjusted by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis's 2022 Regional Price Parity (100.7, US = 100, a relative state-level price-level index, not a district or metro cost-of-living figure), the estimate becomes $76,322, ranking #37 of 51 , 8 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.

$85,000$90,000$95,000$100,000$105,000 FY2019FY2020FY2021FY2022 $87,451 $99,892 ▲ +14.2%

Maine's estimated average teacher salary, FY2019-FY2022

Source: NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey + Staff Universe Survey (consistent estimated basis, all years) As of FY2022

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, FY2022 As of FY2022

Top 3 districts

1 $109,216

Cape Elizabeth Public Schools

Est. avg teacher salary
2 $101,383

Scarborough Public Schools

Est. avg teacher salary
3 $99,803

Yarmouth Schools

Est. avg teacher salary

Districts by Estimated Teacher Salary

District Est. Avg Salary Enrollment Per-Pupil Exp
Cape Elizabeth Public Schools $109,216 1,485 $22,010
Scarborough Public Schools $101,383 2,880 $20,801
Yarmouth Schools $99,803 1,622 $19,575
Falmouth Public Schools $95,642 2,011 $21,506
York Public Schools $93,840 1,568 $23,945
Five Town CSD $91,576 697 $20,428
Wells-Ogunquit CSD $91,431 1,386 $20,392
Portland Public Schools $90,149 6,472 $21,987
RSU 51/MSAD 51 $89,004 2,102 $20,613
Saco Public Schools $88,667 1,815 $27,829
Brewer Public Schools $88,376 1,638 $15,654
RSU 21 $88,135 2,296 $22,399
RSU 35/MSAD 35 $88,042 2,132 $18,506
RSU 28/MSAD 28 $86,798 722 $26,360
Gorham Public Schools $85,855 2,761 $18,388
RSU 01 - Lkrsu $85,419 1,800 $22,786
Glenburn Public Schools $85,000 357 $26,619
RSU 05 $84,186 1,994 $18,155
RSU 23 $83,956 625 $28,827
Brunswick Public Schools $83,904 2,397 $19,574
RSU 74/MSAD 74 $83,881 567 $22,266
Biddeford Public Schools $83,099 2,350 $19,228
Bangor Public Schools $82,685 3,491 $16,993
Madawaska Public Schools $82,449 399 $21,957
Mt Desert CSD $82,409 508 $23,776
RSU 26 $81,934 827 $27,629
RSU 20 $80,903 436 $26,202
RSU 29/MSAD 29 $80,763 1,271 $15,559
Great Salt Bay CSD $80,580 392 $17,651
RSU 22 $80,294 2,253 $15,560
Boothbay-Boothbay Hbr CSD $80,227 482 $26,108
RSU 14 $79,304 3,107 $19,369
MSAD 27 $79,133 827 $18,352
RSU 70/MSAD 70 $79,114 479 $18,073
RSU 71 $79,039 1,411 $21,841
RSU 15/MSAD 15 $78,505 1,802 $17,306
Lewiston Public Schools $78,392 5,175 $19,119
Kittery Public Schools $78,041 948 $22,195
RSU 13 $77,813 1,542 $23,992
RSU 34 $77,627 1,431 $17,347
RSU 10 $77,144 1,802 $23,114
Westbrook Public Schools $76,994 2,381 $21,178
RSU 61/MSAD 61 $76,657 1,636 $22,188
RSU 56 $76,632 737 $21,311
RSU 32/MSAD 32 $76,068 244 $23,225
Ellsworth Public Schools $75,641 1,306 $19,583
Waterville Public Schools $75,558 1,655 $19,811
RSU 73 $75,496 1,385 $18,555
Winslow Schools $75,043 1,103 $17,766
RSU 53/MSAD 53 $75,008 577 $25,442
Hancock Public Schools $74,930 215 $24,623
Augusta Public Schools $74,383 2,133 $17,884
RSU 37/MSAD 37 $74,201 664 $18,154
Baileyville Public Schools $73,851 301 $22,914
RSU 75/MSAD 75 $73,219 2,415 $21,504
Sanford Public Schools $72,902 3,167 $20,518
Easton Public Schools $72,878 227 $20,018
Orrington Public Schools $72,778 345 $22,777
RSU 40/MSAD 40 $72,518 1,825 $16,955
RSU 79/MSAD 01 $72,438 1,687 $17,705
Auburn Public Schools $72,105 3,276 $29,264
RSU 54/MSAD 54 $72,049 2,240 $20,604
RSU 02 $72,048 1,904 $18,481
RSU 44/MSAD 44 $72,041 684 $19,493
RSU 86/MSAD 20 $71,840 469 $17,770
RSU 19 $71,778 1,897 $17,420
Vassalboro Public Schools $71,727 423 $23,262
Lincolnville Public Schools $71,471 209 $19,512
South Portland Public Schools $71,428 2,890 $16,890
RSU 39 $71,394 1,163 $19,540
RSU 59/MSAD 59 $71,289 580 $21,919
RSU 41/MSAD 41 $71,166 622 $20,487
Lisbon Public Schools $71,103 1,249 $14,942
RSU 06/MSAD 06 $71,054 3,336 $17,036
Bar Harbor Public Schools $70,913 332 $24,075
RSU 52/MSAD 52 $70,730 1,933 $16,606
Wiscasset Public Schools $70,479 440 $23,175
RSU 57/MSAD 57 $70,364 2,903 $16,402
RSU 89 $70,041 277 $21,921
RSU 18 $69,735 2,633 $16,906
Acton Public Schools $69,708 230 $25,787
RSU 88/MSAD 24 $69,635 263 $20,388
RSU 11/MSAD 11 $69,514 1,961 $16,146
RSU 04 $69,457 1,345 $18,268
Deer Isle-Stonington CSD $69,262 315 $23,235
RSU 60/MSAD 60 $68,611 2,987 $17,397
RSU 17/MSAD 17 $68,401 3,253 $15,682
RSU 49/MSAD 49 $68,104 1,922 $16,967
East Millinocket Public Schools $67,355 242 $20,628
MSAD 46 $67,019 837 $20,961
RSU 16 $66,917 1,708 $16,739
RSU 80/MSAD 04 $66,755 525 $16,604
Hermon Public Schools $66,578 1,365 $12,903
Winthrop Public Schools $66,259 845 $16,882
RSU 64/MSAD 64 $65,923 1,049 $15,402
RSU 58/MSAD 58 $65,693 599 $19,584
RSU 72/MSAD 72 $65,375 728 $28,837
RSU 55/MSAD 55 $65,322 987 $17,495
RSU 63/MSAD 63 $64,615 442 $27,706
RSU 45/MSAD 45 $64,574 289 $20,145

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
Blue Hill Public Schools $56,126 244
Millinocket Public Schools $56,657 440
Machias Public Schools $57,126 493
RSU 03/MSAD 03 $57,470 1,056
RSU 33/MSAD 33 $57,542 237
RSU 68/MSAD 68 $58,032 625
RSU 50 $58,927 336
RSU 12 $60,000 897
Calais Public Schools $60,812 603
RSU 42/MSAD 42 $60,819 365

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

Compare Nearby-Ranked States

Iowa
$77,910
Rank #26
Nebraska
$77,862
Rank #27
North Dakota
$77,606
Rank #28
North Carolina
$76,187
Rank #30

Data: NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey + Staff Universe Survey, FY2022. 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 Maine's 182 public school districts, the average teacher salary is $76,891 (NCES CCD F-33 finance data divided by CCD Staff Universe Survey teacher headcounts, FY2022). This figure is derived from total instructional spending and runs above survey-reported classroom-teacher-only salaries, 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 $109,216, while Blue Hill Public Schools sits at the lower end at $56,126.

How does Maine teacher pay compare to the national average?

Maine's average of $76,891 is materially below the national average of $85,759 (-10.3%), ranking #29 of 51 US states and territories.

How many school districts are in Maine?

Maine has 182 public school districts in the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, together serving 165,228 students.

Can teachers earn $100,000 in Maine?

2 of 119 Maine districts with reliable data report an estimated average teacher salary of $100,000 or more, led by Cape Elizabeth Public Schools at $109,216. 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?

Adjusted by the BEA's 2022 Regional Price Parity (100.7, US=100), Maine's purchasing-power-adjusted estimated teacher salary is $76,322, ranking #37 of 51 states and territories, lower than its #29 nominal-salary rank. This is a relative state-level price-level comparison, not take-home pay, taxes, or district/metro cost of living.

Related

All states → | Rankings → | Compare districts →
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainTeacher Editorial

According to the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) F-33 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, PlainTeacher's figures are computed directly, no number is typed in by an editor. Maine's district figures are aggregated directly from each district's FY2022 F-33 submission, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Data current as of FY2022.