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Home / Hourly Rates / $11 Per Hour / Maine / Portland Paycheck
PAYCHECK & TAX BREAKDOWN

$11 an Hour is How Much a Year in Portland, ME?

An hourly pay rate of $11/hr in Portland, ME translates to $22,880 in gross yearly earnings based on full-time work of 2,080 annual hours before taxes.

Gross Annual $22,880 52 weeks @ 40 hrs
Gross Monthly $1,906.67 ~166.6 hours/month
Gross Weekly $440 40 hours/week
Overtime Rate (1.5x) $16.50 per hour after 40 hrs
Portland Affordability 37/100 Difficult — Mid Cost of Living
Portland Cost of Living Mid Cost of Living
Avg 1BR Rent in Portland 30% Rule: $572/mo budget
$1,563/mo $991 over budget ✗
Portland Median Wage BLS Local Area Estimate
$26.88/hr -59.1% below local median

How Much is $11 an Hour After Taxes in Portland, ME?

Adjust hours, state, or filing status to calculate custom net take-home pay.

Weekly Hours: 40 hrs/wk
10 hrs (Part-time) 40 hrs (Full-time) 80 hrs
hrs/wk
Estimated Net Take-Home
$18,814.48

per year after Federal, FICA & State Taxes


Monthly Net $1,567.87
Bi-Weekly Net $723.63

Estimated Tax Breakdown ($22,880 Gross)

Federal Income Tax (~3.6%) $828
FICA Tax (Social Security & Medicare 7.65%) $1,750.32
Maine State Tax (~6.5%) $1,487.2
*Estimates based on 2026/2027 IRS tax brackets with standard deduction. ✓ IRS Publication 15-T Verified
Portland Real Purchasing Power (COL-Adjusted) ↑ 102% of National Average
$19,191 COL-Adj. Annual
$1,599 COL-Adj. Monthly
$9.23/hr Real Wage Equiv.

Your $18,814.48 net pay in Portland has the equivalent purchasing power of $19,191/yr nationally due to Portland's MCOL cost-of-living tier — $376.52 more than the same salary in an average U.S. city.

Full Tax & Paycheck Breakdown

For the complete gross-to-net pay matrix, tax calculation, and PTO comparison for $11.00/hr in Maine:

Maine Full Breakdown →

Cheaper Alternatives to Portland in Maine

Earning $11.00/hr in Portland is tight on housing. These Maine cities offer better rent-to-income ratios.

Safe Rent Budget: $572/mo (30% of gross)
City Avg 1BR Rent vs 30% Budget Needs Leftover Local Median Wage Housing Verdict
Auburn $1,150/mo $578 over -$366/mo $19.78/hr 🔴 Difficult
South Portland $1,225/mo $653 over -$441/mo $21.07/hr 🔴 Difficult
Bangor $1,313/mo $741 over -$529/mo $22.57/hr 🔴 Difficult
Lewiston $1,438/mo $866 over -$654/mo $24.72/hr 🔴 Difficult
Portland ← You $1,563/mo $991 over -$779/mo $26.88/hr 🔴 Difficult

*Needs Leftover = 50% of net pay ($784/mo) minus city average rent. Positive = comfortable; negative = rent strain.

City Report

Is $11.00/hr a Living Wage in Portland, ME?

Full monthly expense breakdown based on Portland cost-of-living data and BLS Consumer Expenditure benchmarks.

Below Living Wage Threshold in Portland

$11.00/hr falls $1,285/mo short of estimated living costs in Portland.

Portland (MCOL) living wage threshold: $19.50/hr — your wage is $8.50/hr below this threshold.

Estimated Monthly Expenses in Portland

Expense Category Amount Share
Avg 1BR Rent — Portland $1,563 99.7% of net
Groceries & Food $420 26.8% of net
Utilities (Electric, Water, Internet) $140 8.9% of net
Transportation (Gas, Insurance, Transit) $350 22.3% of net
Healthcare & Insurance $220 14.0% of net
Personal & Miscellaneous $160 10.2% of net
Total Monthly Expenses $2,853 -$1,285 deficit
Your Monthly Net Pay $1,567.87 100%

Portland Wage Percentile

$26.88/hr Portland Median Wage
$11.00/hr Your Hourly Rate
Bottom 35% of Portland Earners
42% of U.S. Median Income

Savings Milestones in Portland

Monthly Savings Capacity (20% of net) $314/mo
3-Month Emergency Fund Target $4,704
Months to Build Emergency Fund 15 months
20% Down Payment on Portland Median Home $75,024
Months to Save for Down Payment 12 months
50/30/20 BUDGET ALLOCATION

50/30/20 Budget Rule for $11/hr in Portland, ME

Based on estimated monthly take-home pay of $1,567.87 after taxes.

⚠️
Portland, ME Rent Deficit Warning ($991/mo Over Budget)

Average 1-bedroom rent in Portland ($1,563/mo) exceeds your 30% safe rent limit ($572/mo) by $991/month. Living with roommates or adjusting lifestyle wants is recommended in Portland.

Needs (50%) Essential
$783.93

Deducting $1563/mo Portland rent leaves $-779.07/mo for groceries & bills.

Wants (30%) Lifestyle
$470.36

Dining out, Hobbies & Subscriptions

Savings & Debt (20%) Wealth
$313.57

Emergency fund, Investments

Housing Affordability

How Much Rent Can You Afford on $11/hr in Portland, ME?

Financial experts recommend spending no more than 30% of your gross income on housing.

Recommended Max Monthly Rent
$572 / mo
Based on the 30% gross rule ($1,906.67 x 0.30).
Ideal Rent Range: $438.53 - $572/mo
Max Stretch Rent (Take-home 40%): Up to $627.15/mo
Portland Average 1BR Rent Benchmark: $1,563/month
Average Portland rent ($1563/mo) exceeds your 50% Needs budget by $779.07/mo.

Detailed Analysis: Is $11.00 an Hour a Good Wage?

Earning $11 per hour in Portland, ME translates to a total pre-tax gross compensation of $22,880 per year based on full-time work of 2,080 annual hours. Compared to the local Portland median wage of $26.88/hr, your wage is below the local median by 59.1%. Positioned relative to typical U.S. benchmarks, this wage level offers a reliable income stream.

Take-Home Pay & Net Cash Flow Analysis

In terms of actual purchasing power, an hourly rate of $11/hr delivers an estimated net take-home pay of $18,814 per year after accounting for Federal taxes, FICA contributions, and state withholdings in Portland, ME.

Housing Affordability & Safe Rent Guidance

Following the established 30% gross income housing guideline ($1,907 gross monthly x 0.30), the recommended maximum monthly rent for a $11/hr wage in Portland, ME is $572/month. This budget leaves a deficit of -$991/mo compared to the average Portland 1-bedroom rent of $1563/mo, indicating that independent housing is tight.

50/30/20 Monthly Budget Allocation

Applying the standard 50/30/20 budget framework to your estimated net monthly pay of $1,568: allocate $784 (50%) for essential needs, $470 (30%) for wants, and $314 (20%) for savings. Because the average local rent of $1563/mo exceeds the 50% Needs allocation, you will have a monthly deficit of -$779 in this category.

Portland Local Median Wage Benchmark ($26.88/hr) -59% Below Local Median
U.S. National Individual Median Income ($54,000/yr) -58% vs National Median

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is $11 an hour per year working full-time in Portland, ME?

Earning $11/hr working 40 hours per week for 52 weeks (2,080 annual hours) in Portland, ME yields a total gross annual salary of $22,880 before tax deductions.

What is the net annual take-home pay for $11 an hour in Portland, ME?

After Federal income tax, 7.65% FICA tax, and estimated Portland, ME state taxes, an hourly wage of $11/hr results in an estimated net take-home pay of $18,814 per year.

How much rent can I afford in Portland, ME earning $11 an hour?

Based on the 30% gross income housing rule ($1,907/mo gross x 0.30), the recommended maximum monthly rent for $11/hr in Portland, ME is $572/month. Sibling city rent averages are compared on this page.

Salary Paycheck Period

Compare different paycheck frequencies for this exact hourly rate.

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