Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in Maine
The median payroll specialist in Maine earned $57,360 a year in May 2025[1], 1.5% below the US median of $58,260. That puts Maine at #22 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-3051. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | $43,370 | $57,360 | $79,040 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Maine earns $47,920–$67,100; the top tenth earns $79,040 or more, 1.8 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Maine median that makes about $81,943 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for payroll specialists we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in Maine
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $73,840 | 210 | |
| Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $64,000 | 50 | |
| Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $63,040 | 120 | |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $62,400 | 40 | |
| Bangor, ME | $53,980 | 100 |
Portland-South Portland, ME pays the most ($61,590) and Bangor, ME the least ($48,490): $13,100 a year apart for the same job.
What a payroll specialist does
A payroll specialist prepares payroll runs, checks hours and deductions, keeps employee pay records and answers staff questions about their pay.
Neighbours in the ranking
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in Maine?
The median was $57,360 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $47,920 to $67,100.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in Maine?
About $81,943 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Maine do payroll specialists earn the most?
Portland-South Portland, ME, with a median of $61,590 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433051.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.