Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Maine: Cost of Living Adjusted (2024)

What does a Cooks, Restaurant salary really buy you in Maine?

Maine is near the US average cost of living

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31

Nominal Salary

$44,870

Median annual (2024)

→ -0.8%

Real Purchasing Power

$44,513

COL-adjusted (RPP=100.8)

Maine Cost of Living Index

Maine's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 100.8, meaning prices are 0.8% higher the national average. A Cooks, Restaurant earning $44,870 in Maine has the equivalent purchasing power of $44,513 in an average-cost US state.

ME: 100.8

Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Maine's cost of living.

Percentile	Nominal Salary	COL-Adjusted	Difference
10th Percentile (P10)	$36,670	$36,378	$-291
25th Percentile (P25)	$38,550	$38,244	$-305
Median (P50)	$44,870	$44,513	$-356
75th Percentile (P75)	$47,720	$47,341	$-378
90th Percentile (P90)	$49,670	$49,275	$-394

Key Insight

Maine's cost of living is close to the national average, so $44,870 keeps most of its value at $44,513 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

Best States for Cooks, Restaurant (After Cost of Living)

Where does Cooks, Restaurant salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Maine

$44,513

RPP 100.8

2. Vermont

$44,075

RPP 101.1

3. Massachusetts

$42,303

RPP 109.4

4. Nebraska

$40,979

RPP 89.8

5. Washington

$40,965

RPP 109.8

6. Montana

$40,786

RPP 90.3

7. North Dakota

$40,653

RPP 88.7

8. Iowa

$40,407

RPP 88.4

9. Hawaii

$40,351

RPP 110.8

10. Wisconsin

$40,021

RPP 92.3

Maine ranks #1 out of 50 states for Cooks, Restaurant after cost-of-living adjustment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Cooks, Restaurant in Maine after cost of living?

A Cooks, Restaurant in Maine earns a median salary of $44,870 per year. After adjusting for Maine's cost of living (RPP=100.8), the real purchasing power is $44,513 — a -0.8% difference.

Is Maine expensive to live in?

Maine's cost of living is 0.8% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Maine is 100.8 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Cooks, Restaurant in Maine: $44,870 x (100 / 100.8) = $44,513. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.