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Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in Maine: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary really buy you in Maine?

Maine is near the US average cost of living

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$74,490
Median annual (2025)
-0.8%
Real Purchasing Power
$73,898
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 Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists earning $74,490 in Maine has the equivalent purchasing power of $73,898 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) $51,690 $51,279 $-410
25th Percentile (P25) $61,530 $61,041 $-488
Median (P50) $74,490 $73,898 $-591
75th Percentile (P75) $86,960 $86,269 $-690
90th Percentile (P90) $97,680 $96,904 $-775
Key Insight

Maine's cost of living is close to the national average, so $74,490 keeps most of its value at $73,898 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Maine Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 100.8

With an RPP of 100.8, Maine is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-0.8%

After adjusting for Maine's cost of living, $74,490 nominal nets out to $73,899 in real purchasing power — a small 0.8% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists.

Below-Median Adjusted Pay

#32 / 47

Maine's rank of #32 of 47 states means real purchasing power for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists trails the national half-way line.

Best States for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists (After Cost of Living)

Where does Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$102,380
RPP 105.0
$101,615
RPP 87.3
$96,534
RPP 90.6
4. Iowa
$93,891
RPP 88.4
$91,809
RPP 116.6
$91,691
RPP 88.7
7. Alaska
$88,598
RPP 102.0
$87,582
RPP 112.5
9. Montana
$87,320
RPP 90.3
10. Michigan
$84,743
RPP 93.4

Maine ranks #32 out of 47 states for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists take-home pay in Maine after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in Maine after cost of living?

A Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in Maine earns a median salary of $74,490 per year. After adjusting for Maine's cost of living (RPP=100.8), the real purchasing power is $73,898 — 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 Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in Maine: $74,490 x (100 / 100.8) = $73,898. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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