Executive Assistant salary in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area
Of the 5 areas in Maine with BLS pay data for this job, the Southwest Maine nonmetro area has the lowest median: $59,550 a year1. That is 7.1% below the Maine statewide median of $64,100, and 22.2% below the US median of $76,590. Nationally it ranks #367 of 509 areas. About 620 executive assistants work here, 27% of the Maine total.
BLS occupation 43-6011, area Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area against Maine and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Maine (Nonmetro) | $46,490 | $59,550 | $82,350 | |
| Maine | $49,850 | $64,100 | $88,160 | |
| United States | $50,560 | $76,590 | $109,850 |
The middle half of executive assistants in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area earns $54,060–$70,470. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $82,350, only 1.8 times the bottom tenth, against 2.2 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $16,410 wide, against $21,080 across Maine and $33,000 nationally: employers in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an executive assistant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,490 | $3,874 | $22.35 | $59,987 |
| 25th percentile | $54,060 | $4,505 | $25.99 | $69,755 |
| Median | $59,550 | $4,962 | $28.63 | $76,839 |
| 75th percentile | $70,470 | $5,872 | $33.88 | $90,929 |
| 90th percentile | $82,350 | $6,862 | $39.59 | $106,258 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $10,920 over the median, the 25th only $5,490 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $14,090 a year in employer cost. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $76,590 falls between the 75th and 90th percentiles in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area, and the Maine statewide median of $64,100 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local executive assistants earn.
What a hire really costs in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area
At the $59,550 median, a local hire costs about $76,839 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $17,289 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
Our open executive assistant roles pay $800–$1,100 a month under a direct contract. The one-time fee is $2,5003 with a 180-day replacement; paying through Deel adds $49 a month4. Change any number below to match your plan.
A local hire here costs about 5.3 times as much as a remote hire in year one at the midpoint of our range. From year two, when the fee drops out, it is 6.4 times the remote figure of $11,988. About the candidates: most apply through our assessment platform with a written and a spoken English task; each profile shows the English level (B1–C2); Silkstaff interviews every shortlisted candidate live, in English, before you meet them.
Other roles in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area
Of the 16 roles we track in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area, this one ranks #6 by median pay, between marketing specialists ($65,680) and paralegals ($59,210). Project Coordinator is the highest at $94,320.
| Role | Median | vs executive assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office Manager | +12.3% | 1,350 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +10.3% | 280 | |
| Executive Assistant | this role | 620 | |
| Paralegal | -0.6% | 190 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -4.2% | 120 |
Measured against the US median, executive assistants rank #15 of the 16 roles we track in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area (-22.2%), between marketing specialists (-16.6%) and sales development representatives (-32.5%). The typical role here is at -5.2%, so, measured against the US, executive assistants cost less in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Executive assistants hold 5.3% of the jobs in these 16 roles in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area, 4.2% across Maine and 2.9% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Maine
Across the 5 areas of Maine with data for this job, the median runs from $59,550 in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area to $67,480 in the Northeast Maine nonmetro area, a gap of $7,930 a year. The one area in Maine with more executive assistants, Portland-South Portland, ME ($66,750), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs the Southwest Maine nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Maine (Nonmetro) | +13.3% | 200 | |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | +12.1% | 1,090 | |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | +6.6% | 110 | |
| Bangor, ME | +3.8% | 190 | |
| Southwest Maine (Nonmetro) | this area | 620 |
the Southwest Maine nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Southwest Maine nonmetro area is #91 of 506 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Maine, Youngstown-Warren and Florence pay just above the Southwest Maine nonmetro area and Asheville and Florence-Muscle Shoals just below. All four are within $160 a year of the median in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many executive assistants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Southwest Maine nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton-Kettering, OH | +7.5% | 610 | jobs | |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | +2.7% | 620 | jobs | |
| Boise City, ID | +1.1% | 640 | jobs | |
| Florence, SC | +0.2% | 110 | pay | |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | +0.0% | 200 | pay | |
| Southwest Maine (Nonmetro) | this area | 620 | ||
| Asheville, NC | -0.2% | 250 | pay | |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | -0.3% | 40 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an executive assistant in Southwest Maine (Nonmetro)?
About $76,839 a year at the median, or $6,403 a month: $59,550 in pay plus about $17,289 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for executive assistants in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area?
The median was $59,550 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $46,490, the 90th $82,350, and the middle half earned $54,060 to $70,470.
Is the Southwest Maine nonmetro area the cheapest area in Maine for executive assistants?
Yes. Its median of $59,550 is the lowest of 5 areas in Maine. Bangor is next at $61,830.
How many executive assistants work in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 620 in the May 2025 survey. That is 27% of the Maine total of 2,320. Only Portland-South Portland has more in Maine.
Does an executive assistant cost more than a paralegal in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area?
Yes: $340 a year more at the median. The medians are $59,550 and $59,210.
What does a remote executive assistant cost compared with the Southwest Maine nonmetro area?
Our open roles pay $800–$1,100 a month. At the midpoint, with the one-time fee and Deel, year one comes to $14,488, against about $76,839 for a local hire at the median.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-6011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.