Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Waiters and Waitresses actually take home in Maine?
Progressive (up to 7.1%) — 21.3% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Waiters and Waitresses earning $43,370 in Maine (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $43,370 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$3,220 | 7.4% |
| Maine State Income Tax | -$2,694 | 6.2% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$2,688 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$628 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$9,232 | 21.3% |
| Take-Home Pay | $34,137 | 78.7% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Waiters and Waitresses in Maine.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $30,490 | -$5,832 | $24,657 | 19.1% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $32,860 | -$6,458 | $26,401 | 19.7% |
| Median (P50) | $43,370 | -$9,232 | $34,137 | 21.3% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $62,910 | -$14,526 | $48,383 | 23.1% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $82,930 | -$21,894 | $61,035 | 26.4% |
After federal income tax ($3,220), state tax ($2,694), and FICA ($3,317), a Waiters and Waitresses in Maine takes home $34,137 per year — or $2,844 per month. The effective tax rate of 21.3% is relatively low compared to the national range.
With an effective total rate of 21.3%, a Waiters and Waitresses in Maine keeps $34,137 of $43,370 gross — roughly typical for U.S. middle-income earners once federal, FICA and state taxes are combined.
Maine uses a progressive state income tax, so brackets escalate as wages rise. For this Waiters and Waitresses salary the state tax works out to $2,695 (6.2% effective) — on top of federal and FICA.
Federal tax on this Waiters and Waitresses salary is $3,220 (35%), but combined state ($2,695, 29%) + FICA ($3,318, 36%) make up the other 65% of the bill.
Moving this same Waiters and Waitresses salary to a zero-state-tax state would yield around $36,832 net — a gain of $2,695 (7.9%) per year versus Maine.
For Waiters and Waitresses after-tax pay, Maine ranks #11 of 51 states — top quartile. High gross wages or low state-tax burden (or both) drive the strong ranking.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $34,137 net/year works out to $2,845/month or $1,313/bi-weekly for this Waiters and Waitresses in Maine — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Waiters and Waitresses keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Maine ranks #11 out of 51 states for Waiters and Waitresses after-tax take-home pay.
A Waiters and Waitresses in Maine earning a median salary of $43,370 will take home approximately $34,137 per year after federal income tax ($3,220), state income tax ($2,694), and FICA ($3,317). That is $2,844 per month or $1,312 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Waiters and Waitresses in Maine is 21.3%, broken down as: federal income tax 7.4%, Maine state tax 6.2%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.7%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
Maine has a progressive (up to 7.1%). On a Waiters and Waitresses's median salary of $43,370, the state income tax amounts to $2,694 per year, which is an effective state rate of 6.2%.
After all taxes, a Waiters and Waitresses in Maine takes home approximately $2,844 per month, or about $16.41 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2025 BLS median salary of $43,370 for Waiters and Waitresses in Maine, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), Maine state income tax (progressive (up to 7.1%)), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $34,137/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
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This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR