Since 2007, the minimum salary for a Maine certified teacher has been $30,000 per year. Even so, individuals interested in becoming a teacher in Maine should be aware that salary schedules differ among school districts, and that many teachers earn significantly more than this bare minimum. The Maine Education Association makes salary schedules available online for different UniServe Districts, geographical groupings of Maine districts used by the MEA.
The average salary of an experienced professional with teaching certification in Maine is $44,731 as of 2012, according to the National Education Association. During the same year, first-year teachers earned an average of $30,732. Completing the teacher requirements in Maine for a master’s-level degree adds anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 to a teacher’s annual salary.
Early-career salaries have been improving, but Maine still lags behind most other states in the U.S. for teacher pay. The following graph, compiled from data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, shows that only preschool teachers make above the national average.
| Occupation | Annual mean wage in Maine | Annual mean wage in U.S. |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $84,380 | $86,620 |
| Physics Teachers Postsecondary | $76,760 | $86,730 |
| Psychology Teachers Postsecondary | $61,670 | $74,890 |
| Education Teachers Postsecondary | $61,820 | $65,050 |
| English Language and Literature Teachers Postsecondary | $64,170 | $68,760 |
| Preschool Teachers Except Special Education | $31,120 | $30,150 |
| Kindergarten Teachers Except Special Education | $45,840 | $52,350 |
| Elementary School Teachers Except Special Education | $47,800 | $55,270 |
| Middle School Teachers Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $48,180 | $55,780 |
| Secondary School Teachers Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $48,380 | $56,760 |
| Special Education Teachers Preschool Kindergarten and Elementary School | $45,500 | $56,460 |
| Special Education Teachers Middle School | $46,700 | $58,420 |
| Special Education Teachers Secondary School | $47,730 | $59,080 |
Teachers in Maine’s largest commercial center, Bangor, earn salaries that are slightly better than the state average. Teachers from the cities of Lewiston and Portland are not far off pace. This salary chart is current as of May 2011.
| City | Annual mean wage |
| Bangor, ME | $46,860 |
| Lewiston-Auburn ME | $43,050 |
| Portland-South Portland-Biddeford ME | $45,950 |
Helpful Resources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Annual wage information for education, training and library positions
- Maine Education Association – Teacher Salaries
- Maine State Legislature – Final Report of the Study Commission Regarding Teachers’ Compensation