Jobs, pay and daily life in Lewiston, 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.
Lewiston is a city in Maine with 38,324 residents. The median household earns $55,393 a year and the median rent is $986 a month, which is 21.4% of the median household income. It is part of the Lewiston-Auburn, ME metropolitan area, where BLS counts 47,660 jobs.
How Lewiston compares. Among the 40 largest places in Maine, Lewiston is #2 by population, #37 for college degrees (#1 = most), #34 for homeownership (#1 = highest), #32 for household income (#1 = highest). Its county, Androscoggin County, is #5 of 16 counties for average pay ($58,507).
Lewiston has 38,324 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 2.8% of the population of Maine. It covers 34 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 1,122 people per square mile. The median age is 37.3, 17% younger than the state median (37.3 against 44.8).
The median gross rent is $986 a month (rent plus utilities), 13% below the state median ($986 against $1,139). Over a year that is 21.4% 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 $235,100, which is 4.2 times the median household income ($55,393). 51.2% of households own their home, 31% below the state average (51.2% against 74.3%). A low ownership share points to a rental-heavy market with more apartments and shorter stays.
The Lewiston-Auburn, ME metropolitan area has 47,660 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $49,540 a year, about the same as the national median ($49,540 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (5,310 jobs, median $47,420); transportation and material moving (4,960 jobs, median $47,330); sales and related (4,130 jobs, median $38,460). The area is most specialised in office and administrative support (1.0 times), where the share of workers is above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are office and administrative support ($47,420). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Androscoggin County was 3.3%. 61.1% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Androscoggin County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 66.5% drive alone, 0.9% use public transit, 6.9% walk, 12.3% work from home. 12.8% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 12% below the state average (12.8% against 14.5%).
22.6% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 38% below the state share (22.6% against 36.2%). 11.5% of residents were born outside the United States, 182% above the state share (11.5% against 4.1%). The poverty rate is 20.0%, 86% above the state rate (20.0% against 10.8%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 69°F (20.6°C), and the coolest is Jan at 20°F (-6.7°C). About 1,269 mm (50 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Oct is the wettest month (144 mm) and Jan the driest (79 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: Auburn (4 miles, rent 6% higher); Lisbon Falls (8 miles, similar rent); Topsham (15 miles, rent 51% higher); Brunswick (18 miles, rent 49% higher). Rent differences are against Lewiston; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Maine (185) →State guide: MaineCountry guideAndroscoggin 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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 1,870 | 1.42 | $38,240 | $35,130 | $45,180 | +7% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,490 | 1.26 | $34,720 | $30,780 | $41,090 | +11% |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,430 | 1.20 | $36,540 | $31,300 | $52,810 | +3% |
| Registered Nurses | 1,280 | 1.23 | $85,870 | $73,930 | $105,440 | -12% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,210 | 1.40 | $40,680 | $32,630 | $59,790 | +9% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,080 | 1.71 | $57,900 | $44,600 | $70,620 | -1% |
| Cashiers | 1,020 | 1.08 | $35,280 | $31,290 | $37,600 | +7% |
| General and Operations Managers | 950 | 0.89 | $96,730 | $52,920 | $174,770 | -9% |
| Office Clerks, General | 950 | 1.26 | $42,840 | $34,060 | $60,080 | -5% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 820 | 1.88 | $47,120 | $37,870 | $57,180 | +28% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 760 | 1.12 | $38,240 | $32,240 | $47,360 | +4% |
| Nursing Assistants | 690 | 1.55 | $48,570 | $41,480 | $60,230 | +15% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 670 | 1.58 | $59,110 | $43,830 | $79,470 | -8% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 610 | 0.67 | $43,780 | $34,980 | $52,200 | +9% |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 540 | 1.28 | $50,230 | $40,480 | $70,810 | -1% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 480 | 0.60 | $45,790 | $36,000 | $60,660 | +2% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 460 | 0.88 | $48,880 | $39,580 | $61,610 | +3% |
| Childcare Workers | 460 | 2.89 | $34,570 | $31,560 | $46,020 | -1% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 460 | 1.35 | $51,440 | $39,850 | $78,420 | +6% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 450 | 0.65 | $43,130 | $30,470 | $80,540 | +22% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | 950 | 0.89 | $96,730 | $52,920 | $174,770 | -9% |
| Registered Nurses | 1,280 | 1.23 | $85,870 | $73,930 | $105,440 | -12% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 670 | 1.58 | $59,110 | $43,830 | $79,470 | -8% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,080 | 1.71 | $57,900 | $44,600 | $70,620 | -1% |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 540 | 1.28 | $50,230 | $40,480 | $70,810 | -1% |
| Nursing Assistants | 690 | 1.55 | $48,570 | $41,480 | $60,230 | +15% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 820 | 1.88 | $47,120 | $37,870 | $57,180 | +28% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 610 | 0.67 | $43,780 | $34,980 | $52,200 | +9% |
| Office Clerks, General | 950 | 1.26 | $42,840 | $34,060 | $60,080 | -5% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,210 | 1.40 | $40,680 | $32,630 | $59,790 | +9% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 1,870 | 1.42 | $38,240 | $35,130 | $45,180 | +7% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 760 | 1.12 | $38,240 | $32,240 | $47,360 | +4% |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,430 | 1.20 | $36,540 | $31,300 | $52,810 | +3% |
| Cashiers | 1,020 | 1.08 | $35,280 | $31,290 | $37,600 | +7% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,490 | 1.26 | $34,720 | $30,780 | $41,090 | +11% |
These figures are for the whole Lewiston-Auburn, ME metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $49,540 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.3% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.7% |
| Retail trade | 12.4% |
| Manufacturing | 11.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 8.8% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 8.7% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 8.5% |
| Construction | 4.9% |
| Other services | 4.2% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 4.2% |
| Public administration | 2.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.6% |
| Information | 1.3% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.4% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Lewiston 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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Androscoggin County | 113,423 | $7,050 million | $62,156 | 48,676 | 3,600 | $58,507 | +1.2% | 3.3% | 55,605 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 9,992 | 25.6% | $61,343 | 1.43 |
| Retail trade | 6,201 | 15.9% | $40,518 | 1.28 |
| Manufacturing | 5,175 | 13.2% | $66,351 | 1.29 |
| Accommodation and food services | 3,629 | 9.3% | $27,316 | 0.82 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 2,388 | 6.1% | $62,466 | 1.16 |
| Administrative and waste services | 2,342 | 6.0% | $43,424 | 0.82 |
| Professional and technical services | 1,856 | 4.8% | $101,171 | 0.55 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,558 | 4.0% | $74,459 | 0.81 |
| Finance and insurance | 1,454 | 3.7% | $82,545 | 0.74 |
| Educational services | 1,446 | 3.7% | $65,818 | 1.44 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 1,062 | 2.7% | $44,499 | 0.72 |
| Management of companies | 1,022 | 2.6% | $84,886 | 1.25 |
| Real estate and rental | 464 | 1.2% | $52,935 | 0.61 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 365 | 0.9% | $24,085 | 0.45 |
| Utilities | 111 | 0.3% | $129,160 | 0.60 |
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 | 66.5% |
| Public transit | 0.9% |
| Walk | 6.9% |
| Work from home | 12.3% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 12.8% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $55,393 |
| Income per person | $30,979 |
| Median gross rent per month | $986 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 21.4% |
| Median home value | $235,100 |
| Homeowners | 51.2% |
| Poverty rate | 20.0% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 94.7 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $49,540 |
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 | 37.3 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 91.1% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 22.6% |
| Born abroad | 11.5% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 61.1% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -6.7 | 20 | 79 |
| Feb | -5.7 | 22 | 88 |
| Mar | -0.8 | 31 | 94 |
| Apr | 5.8 | 42 | 114 |
| May | 11.9 | 53 | 98 |
| Jun | 17.0 | 63 | 128 |
| Jul | 20.6 | 69 | 93 |
| Aug | 20.4 | 69 | 94 |
| Sep | 16.6 | 62 | 97 |
| Oct | 9.9 | 50 | 144 |
| Nov | 3.4 | 38 | 118 |
| Dec | -2.7 | 27 | 122 |
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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn | ME | 4 mi | 24,602 | $66,647 | $1,041 |
| Lisbon Falls | ME | 8 mi | 4,267 | $72,344 | $971 |
| Topsham | ME | 15 mi | 7,271 | $100,024 | $1,491 |
| Brunswick | ME | 18 mi | 17,652 | $70,722 | $1,465 |
| Bath | ME | 19 mi | 8,815 | $69,390 | $1,044 |
| Yarmouth | ME | 20 mi | 6,289 | $93,575 | $1,663 |
| Gardiner | ME | 20 mi | 6,088 | $71,782 | $1,113 |
| North Windham | ME | 22 mi | 5,417 | $88,522 | $1,248 |
| Augusta | ME | 28 mi | 19,077 | $47,979 | $919 |
| Westbrook | ME | 28 mi | 20,775 | $85,038 | $1,392 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
38,324 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$986 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 21.4% of the median household income.
$55,393 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.3% (BLS county, Androscoggin County (latest month 2026M09)).
Maine. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.