Ranked by median pay, with jobs and rent share; from BLS and Census data.
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 08/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
3 metro areas in Maine publish pay for this occupation with at least 100 jobs, together 4,440 jobs. The three largest employers of elementary school teachers, except special education are Portland-South Portland (2,830 jobs), Bangor (940 jobs), Lewiston-Auburn (670 jobs), which hold 100.0% of those jobs. Median pay across these metros runs from $59,110 to $76,770 a year, against $62,390 for the whole state and $63,970 for the whole country.
BLS reports a national median of $63,970 a year for elementary school teachers, except special education (the lowest-paid tenth earn under $47,960 and the highest-paid tenth over $104,340). Employment is projected to change by -0.4% between 2025 and 2035, with about 87,500 openings a year including replacements. The typical entry route is: Bachelor's degree. Education requirements are BLS's typical ones, not legal rules; many states also license this work, so check the state board before applying.
Higher pay is not the whole story: look at the rent share column (yearly rent divided by median pay) and the price level (100 is the national average). A metro with a lower salary but cheaper housing can leave more money at the end of the month. The location quotient shows where the occupation is concentrated; employers cluster where it is above 1, which usually means more openings and more competition among employers for the same skills.
Elementary school teachers, except special education in Maine: the highest median pay is in the Portland-South Portland, ME area ($76,770 a year); the most jobs are in the Portland-South Portland, ME area (2,830). Statewide the median is $62,390 with 7,490 jobs. Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation are listed; click a column to sort.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ | Price level (US = 100) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 2,830 | $76,770 | $48,600 | $95,590 | 1.10 | 23% | 101.9 |
| Bangor, ME | 940 | $60,080 | $46,380 | $83,490 | 1.45 | 21% | 96.5 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | 670 | $59,110 | $43,830 | $79,470 | 1.58 | 21% | 94.7 |
National page: Elementary school teachers, except special education →Cities of Maine
Rent uses the metro median gross rent (ACS) and appears only for metros that contain a city of this guide. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure or we have no rent for that metro.
In the Portland-South Portland, ME area, with a median of $76,770 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025; metro areas with at least 100 jobs).
In the Portland-South Portland, ME area, with 2,830 jobs.