What skilled trades pay in Maine, where the jobs are and how work is changing, from 37 public government sources. The best-paying trade here is elevator installer at a $143,690 median. For every trade and metro, start from the Maine pay page.
How Maine compares
23 of the 40 trades we track in Maine pay more than in a typical U.S. metro. The biggest premiums are for tile setter (+40%), telecom line installer (+39%) and elevator installer (+33%), and the biggest gaps for brickmason (-32%) and electrical lineworker (-14%). Prices in Maine's metros run about 3% below the U.S. average, and a typical 1-bedroom rents for $1,291 a month (U.S. metros: $1,097).
Best-paying trades in Maine
Statewide median pay, BLS May 2025. The lowest-paying trade we track here is brickmason at $42,710.
Every trade in Maine
Statewide medians and jobs, BLS OEWS May 2025. “vs. U.S.” compares with the typical U.S. metro median for the trade.
Where the jobs are
- Landscaper: 6,410 jobs
- Maintenance Technician: 5,820 jobs
- Carpenter: 5,170 jobs
- Construction Laborer: 3,960 jobs
- Electrician: 3,780 jobs
Maine metros, best pay first
Ranked by how each metro's trade pay compares with all U.S. metros, averaged across trades.
Unions
11.9% of Maine workers belong to a union (14.1% are covered by a union contract), compared with about 10% nationally (all jobs, 2025).
Apprenticeships
Registered apprentices in Maine who finished or left a program in FY2020–2024 completed most often in machinist (82%), electrician (52%) and plumber (43%).
Wages and safety
Unpaid wages recovered
Since 2018, the U.S. Labor Department has concluded 45 wage cases against construction employers in Maine, recovering $194,053 in back wages for 303 workers.offer check and keep your own record of hours.
DOL Wage and Hour Division enforcement data, cases concluded 2018–2026. Counts only; employers aren't named here.
Safety inspections
In 2025, federal OSHA opened 67 inspections of construction worksites in the state. About 49% were set off by a complaint, a referral or an accident (3 after an accident or fatality); the rest were planned spot checks.
OSHA inspection data via the U.S. Department of Labor, construction (NAICS 23), inspections opened in 2025. Counts only.
Storm and disaster rebuild work
Since 2016, the Maine metros with the most federal major disasters are Portland (7), Bangor (2) and Lewiston (1) (FEMA).
Veterans
Veterans: train on the job with the GI Bill
In Maine, 194 employers and programs are approved for GI Bill on-the-job training and apprenticeships, across all fields. Veterans in an approved trade apprenticeship can get a monthly housing allowance on top of apprentice pay. Search approved employers with the VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, GI Bill Comparison Tool data, October 2026.
Common questions
What is the highest-paying skilled trade in Maine?
Elevator Installer pays the most of the trades we track, with a $143,690 statewide median (BLS, May 2025), followed by telecom line installer and electrical lineworker.
Which trade has the most jobs in Maine?
landscapers, with about 6,410 jobs statewide, followed by maintenance technicians and carpenters.
Which Maine city pays the trades best?
Portland, compared with other U.S. metros across the trades we track, followed by Lewiston.
Part of the State of Trade Pay 2026 report. Cite as “PayByTrade, State of Trade Pay in Maine 2026, payby.trade/report/me/.”