Jobs, pay and daily life in Belfast, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Belfast is a city in Maine with 6,986 residents. The median household earns $67,679 a year and the median rent is $962 a month, which is 17.1% of the median household income. The nearest metropolitan area with BLS wage data is Bangor, ME (72,270 jobs), about 24 miles away; this place is probably not part of it, so its pay tables are a reference only.
How Belfast compares. Among the 40 largest places in Maine, Belfast is #24 by population, #9 for rent (#1 = cheapest), #31 for long commutes (#1 = fewest), #27 for remote work (#1 = most). Its county, Waldo County, is #9 of 16 counties for average pay ($54,674).
Belfast has 6,986 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.5% of the population of Maine. It covers 34 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 205 people per square mile. The median age is 60.6, 35% older than the state median (60.6 against 44.8).
The median gross rent is $962 a month (rent plus utilities), 16% below the state median ($962 against $1,139). Over a year that is 17.1% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $340,900, which is 5.0 times the median household income ($67,679); a ratio above 5 usually means buying is out of reach without savings or a second income. 68.5% of households own their home, 8% below the state average (68.5% against 74.3%).
The nearest metropolitan area with wage data is Bangor, ME, metropolitan area has 72,270 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $47,960 a year, 6% below the national median ($47,960 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (8,560 jobs, median $46,890); sales and related (6,680 jobs, median $36,360); food preparation and serving related (6,670 jobs, median $35,590). The area is most specialised in healthcare practitioners and technical (1.3 times) and sales and related (1.1 times), where the share of workers is above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are healthcare practitioners and technical ($82,410) and office and administrative support ($46,890). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Waldo County was 3.4%. 42.9% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Waldo County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 76.5% drive alone, 0.8% use public transit, 4.6% walk, 11.9% work from home. 14.8% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, about the same as the state average (14.8% against 14.5%).
42.9% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 19% above the state share (42.9% against 36.2%). 4.9% of residents were born outside the United States, 20% above the state share (4.9% against 4.1%). The poverty rate is 16.1%, 49% above the state rate (16.1% against 10.8%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 67°F (19.6°C), and the coolest is Jan at 20°F (-6.5°C). About 1,182 mm (47 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Oct is the wettest month (140 mm) and Jan the driest (78 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Rockland (21 miles, rent 14% higher); Hampden (24 miles, rent 18% higher); Brewer (29 miles, rent 13% higher); Ellsworth (29 miles, rent 6% higher). Rent differences are against Belfast; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Maine (185) →State guide: MaineCountry guideWaldo CountyMaine rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 185 federal postings open in Maine (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 2,550 | 1.42 | $34,140 | $30,470 | $37,700 | +9% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 2,290 | 1.14 | $37,900 | $34,160 | $44,900 | +6% |
| Retail Salespersons | 2,210 | 1.22 | $35,560 | $30,630 | $47,850 | +0% |
| Registered Nurses | 2,190 | 1.39 | $93,940 | $75,580 | $102,660 | -4% |
| Cashiers | 1,990 | 1.38 | $32,200 | $30,470 | $37,090 | -2% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,440 | 1.09 | $37,040 | $31,050 | $47,570 | -1% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,440 | 1.50 | $56,250 | $39,100 | $64,290 | -4% |
| General and Operations Managers | 1,430 | 0.88 | $91,110 | $47,990 | $175,110 | -14% |
| Office Clerks, General | 1,390 | 1.22 | $45,310 | $33,860 | $57,770 | +1% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 1,370 | 1.34 | $37,080 | $32,780 | $47,190 | +1% |
| Nursing Assistants | 1,110 | 1.65 | $46,970 | $38,920 | $60,220 | +11% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 1,030 | 1.56 | $45,120 | $35,600 | $49,570 | +23% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 940 | 1.45 | $60,080 | $46,380 | $83,490 | -6% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 900 | 0.85 | $45,610 | $30,470 | $91,180 | +29% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 870 | 1.10 | $48,170 | $39,210 | $59,320 | +1% |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 780 | 1.23 | $49,000 | $39,510 | $66,500 | -3% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 760 | 1.46 | $52,200 | $38,620 | $74,520 | +8% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 720 | 0.53 | $41,600 | $31,170 | $48,160 | +3% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 710 | 0.59 | $42,530 | $34,080 | $59,430 | -5% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 680 | 1.02 | $64,620 | $46,680 | $102,230 | -7% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 2,190 | 1.39 | $93,940 | $75,580 | $102,660 | -4% |
| General and Operations Managers | 1,430 | 0.88 | $91,110 | $47,990 | $175,110 | -14% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 680 | 1.02 | $64,620 | $46,680 | $102,230 | -7% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 940 | 1.45 | $60,080 | $46,380 | $83,490 | -6% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,440 | 1.50 | $56,250 | $39,100 | $64,290 | -4% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 760 | 1.46 | $52,200 | $38,620 | $74,520 | +8% |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 780 | 1.23 | $49,000 | $39,510 | $66,500 | -3% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 870 | 1.10 | $48,170 | $39,210 | $59,320 | +1% |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 650 | 1.46 | $47,640 | $38,630 | $58,580 | +4% |
| Medical Assistants | 670 | 1.77 | $47,120 | $39,620 | $55,860 | +3% |
| Nursing Assistants | 1,110 | 1.65 | $46,970 | $38,920 | $60,220 | +11% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 600 | 0.84 | $46,960 | $36,240 | $68,900 | -5% |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | 660 | 3.22 | $46,590 | $38,550 | $59,040 | +1% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 900 | 0.85 | $45,610 | $30,470 | $91,180 | +29% |
| Office Clerks, General | 1,390 | 1.22 | $45,310 | $33,860 | $57,770 | +1% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 1,030 | 1.56 | $45,120 | $35,600 | $49,570 | +23% |
| Construction Laborers | 530 | 1.05 | $44,420 | $33,700 | $55,730 | -6% |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 510 | 1.16 | $43,620 | $32,830 | $50,680 | +11% |
| Light Truck Drivers | 580 | 1.27 | $43,420 | $31,290 | $93,670 | -3% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 710 | 0.59 | $42,530 | $34,080 | $59,430 | -5% |
These figures are for the nearest metropolitan area with wage data, Bangor, ME, about 24 miles away. They show what the regional labour market pays; they are not a measure of this city.
Median pay across all occupations: $47,960 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.4% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Retail trade | 22.9% |
| Education and health care | 22.5% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 13.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 7.6% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 7.5% |
| Construction | 5.9% |
| Manufacturing | 5.7% |
| Other services | 4.9% |
| Information | 3.5% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 3.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.7% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 1.3% |
| Public administration | 0.0% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Belfast lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waldo County | 40,192 | $1,998 million | $49,716 | 11,273 | 1,459 | $54,674 | -2.4% | 3.4% | 18,233 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 1,681 | 19.7% | $37,692 | 1.49 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,622 | 19.0% | $61,809 | 1.00 |
| Manufacturing | 1,081 | 12.6% | $56,492 | 1.17 |
| Management of companies | 921 | 10.8% | $82,927 | 4.85 |
| Accommodation and food services | 836 | 9.8% | $28,315 | 0.82 |
| Finance and insurance | 556 | 6.5% | $87,145 | 1.22 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 467 | 5.5% | $43,757 | 1.38 |
| Professional and technical services | 376 | 4.4% | $86,585 | 0.48 |
| Administrative and waste services | 368 | 4.3% | $45,506 | 0.55 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 238 | 2.8% | $61,055 | 0.50 |
| Educational services | 171 | 2.0% | $47,606 | 0.73 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 150 | 1.8% | $34,269 | 0.79 |
| Real estate and rental | 85 | 1.0% | $38,762 | 0.49 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 76.5% |
| Public transit | 0.8% |
| Walk | 4.6% |
| Work from home | 11.9% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 14.8% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $67,679 |
| Income per person | $48,291 |
| Median gross rent per month | $962 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 17.1% |
| Median home value | $340,900 |
| Homeowners | 68.5% |
| Poverty rate | 16.1% |
| Price level of the nearest metro area (US = 100) | 96.5 |
| Nearest metro median pay, all occupations | $47,960 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set; graduated states show 0 until you enter your own estimate. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Graduated, top rate 7.15%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 60.6 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 92.6% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 42.9% |
| Born abroad | 4.9% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 42.9% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -6.5 | 20 | 78 |
| Feb | -5.4 | 22 | 78 |
| Mar | -0.9 | 30 | 87 |
| Apr | 5.2 | 41 | 100 |
| May | 11.0 | 52 | 92 |
| Jun | 15.9 | 61 | 111 |
| Jul | 19.6 | 67 | 79 |
| Aug | 19.6 | 67 | 84 |
| Sep | 16.0 | 61 | 96 |
| Oct | 9.7 | 49 | 140 |
| Nov | 3.5 | 38 | 116 |
| Dec | -2.5 | 28 | 121 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockland | ME | 21 mi | 7,035 | $56,533 | $1,092 |
| Hampden | ME | 24 mi | 5,161 | $112,228 | $1,133 |
| Brewer | ME | 29 mi | 9,652 | $66,613 | $1,086 |
| Ellsworth | ME | 29 mi | 8,657 | $77,375 | $1,017 |
| Winslow | ME | 30 mi | 5,873 | $59,547 | $1,036 |
| Bangor | ME | 30 mi | 31,938 | $59,942 | $1,055 |
| Waterville | ME | 32 mi | 17,077 | $53,580 | $978 |
| Orono | ME | 35 mi | 11,151 | $59,784 | $1,280 |
| Augusta | ME | 36 mi | 19,077 | $47,979 | $919 |
| Old Town | ME | 39 mi | 7,470 | $51,585 | $989 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
6,986 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$962 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 17.1% of the median household income.
$67,679 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.4% (BLS county, Waldo County (latest month 2026M09)).
Maine. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.