Cost of hiring in the Northeast Maine nonmetro area
Bookkeeper is the largest of these 14 jobs in the Northeast Maine nonmetro area, with about 1,240 people1. Medians run from $39,270 a year for virtual receptionists to $80,060 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Northeast Maine nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Receptionist | +3.3% | 330 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +0.2% | 50 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -0.7% | 560 | |
| Recruiter | -2.6% | 170 | |
| Paralegal | -3.3% | 90 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -4.0% | 390 | |
| Accountant | -5.0% | 370 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -5.5% | 440 | |
| Bookkeeper | -7.1% | 1,240 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -7.2% | 170 | |
| Office Manager | -9.8% | 570 | |
| Executive Assistant | -11.9% | 200 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -20.1% | 110 | |
| Project Coordinator | -21.8% | 140 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $47,050 median for bookkeepers, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $60,710 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Northeast Maine nonmetro area against the US
The Northeast Maine nonmetro area pays above the US median for only one of the 14 roles, virtual receptionists (+3.3%), and below it for 11, furthest for project coordinators (-21.8%). For payroll specialists and administrative assistants it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 14 is -5.3%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for marketing specialists, #90 of 516 areas by median pay; its lowest is for project coordinators, #437 of 518.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Northeast Maine nonmetro area has more bookkeepers (25.7% of these jobs here, against 8.8% nationally) and executive assistants (4.1% against 3.0%), and fewer sales development representatives (2.3% against 8.1%) and project coordinators (2.9% against 6.8%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI is nearest, at -5.2%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | -5.2% | 17 | 43,050 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | -5.2% | 15 | 9,370 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | -5.2% | 17 | 51,290 |
| Northeast Maine (Nonmetro) | -5.3% (this area) | 14 | 4,830 |
| Santa Fe, NM | -5.4% | 13 | 7,600 |
| Rockford, IL | -5.4% | 17 | 11,210 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in the Northeast Maine nonmetro area span $36,020–$114,260, the widest band (3.2×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $38,430–$51,680. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 14 of 14 roles, sales development representatives most ($37,980–$148,840 across the US). Budget from the median for project coordinators, sales development representatives, accountants and 1 more role: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($89,330 against a $80,060 median for project coordinators).
the Northeast Maine nonmetro area against Maine
Against Maine as a whole, the Northeast Maine nonmetro area pays more for 5 of 14 roles, led by executive assistants (+5.3%) and recruiters (+3.3%), and less for 9, most of all project coordinators (-21.4%). It has the highest median in Maine for executive assistants, and the lowest for project coordinators, office managers and administrative assistants and 4 more roles.
Other areas in Maine
By jobs in these roles, the Northeast Maine nonmetro area is #4 of 5 areas in Maine. The table shows the other 4.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 24,580 | 17 |
| Southwest Maine (Nonmetro) | 11,730 | 16 |
| Bangor, ME | 5,910 | 16 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | 3,830 | 16 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Northeast Maine nonmetro area?
Of the 14 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $80,060 a year, about $103,303 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $39,270.
Is hiring in the Northeast Maine nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
For 11 of the 14 roles, yes, most of all project coordinators (-21.8%). One pays more than the US median: virtual receptionists (+3.3%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.