Maine gets slept on. People think lobster rolls, lighthouses, and long winters, but the state is quietly one of the smarter places to land a career if you’ve got a college degree. And there are many great Maine jobs. Unemployment is around 3.4 %, housing prices are still sane outside Portland, and employers are paying solid money because the talent pool isn’t huge. Portland is a legit small-city tech and creative hub, Augusta has government and health jobs, Bangor is growing in healthcare and logistics, and even Lewiston-Auburn and the Midcoast are picking up steam. Here are six great Maine jobs that keep coming up when I talk to people who actually live and work here.
1. Software Engineer / Developer
Average pay: $95k–$135k
Portland’s “Silicon Harbor” nickname is real now. WEX, Tyler Technologies, IDEXX, and a growing cluster of remote-friendly startups are hiring engineers who can build SaaS platforms, fintech tools, or data systems. CS, computer engineering, or even a strong self-taught path with a related degree works.
Why it’s strong: Many roles are fully remote or hybrid, so you can live in Freeport, Brunswick, or even Bar Harbor and still collect Boston-area pay.
Hot spots: Portland (especially the Old Port and Bayside), South Portland, Yarmouth.
Names hiring: WEX (the payments giant), IDEXX Laboratories, Tyler Technologies, and smaller shops like Ready Education.
Manya T. in Yarmouth: “I make the same as my old Boston job, but I have a house on the water and I’m home by 4:30 to kayak. No regrets.”
2. Registered Nurse (BSN)
Average pay: $80k–$110k + $15k–$30k sign-on bonuses
Maine Medical Center in Portland, Northern Light Eastern Maine in Bangor, and MaineGeneral in Augusta are in a constant nurse shortage. Rural hospitals in Aroostook, Washington County, and the Midcoast are offering even bigger incentives.
Why it’s great money: Maine has some of the highest RN wages in New England because of shortages and cost of living. Many places offer relocation help and housing stipends for these great Maine jobs.
3. Civil / Environmental Engineer
Average pay: $80k–$115k
Infrastructure upgrades (roads, bridges, coastal resilience, wind projects) are steady. Firms like Stantec, GZA, and the state DOT need engineers who can design and manage projects in a state with harsh winters and sensitive coastlines.
Why it’s hot: Federal infrastructure dollars keep coming, and Maine’s offshore wind push adds more work. Many roles qualify for PSLF if you go public-sector.
4. Financial Analyst / Accountant
Average pay: $70k–$100k
Portland’s finance community is anchored by banks, insurance, and tourism operators. A finance, accounting, or econ degree gets you interviews at places that need budgeting, forecasting, and compliance work.
Why these are great Maine jobs: Starting pay is strong for the region, and the CPA or CFA actually accelerates raises.
5. Marine / Ocean Engineer
Average pay: $85k–$120k
Portland, Bath, and Brunswick are home to the Bath Iron Works (shipbuilding), Gulf of Maine Research Institute, and growing aquaculture and offshore wind companies. Mechanical, ocean engineering, or civil degrees with marine focus are perfect.
Why it’s hot: Maine is pushing hard into offshore wind and sustainable aquaculture—federal grants and private investment mean steady projects.
6. High School Teacher – Math, Science, SpEd
Average pay: $55k–$80k + loan forgiveness & rural housing help
Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, and rural districts like RSU 10 or MSAD 54 are offering $10k–$20k bonuses and will help with housing if you teach high-need subjects.
Why people stay at these great Maine jobs: Smaller class sizes, beautiful campuses, and you’re off by 3:00 with summers to kayak Acadia or fish the Allagash.
How to Actually Land One of These Great Maine Jobs
- Put “open to relocation to Portland / Bangor / Midcoast” in your LinkedIn headline—recruiters search that phrase every day.
- Use www.maine.gov/portal/employment/ (the state workforce site) and the Maine DOE teacher job board.
- Tailor your resume to show cost-of-living awareness (they love candidates who understand Maine isn’t cheap).
- Network at Maine Chamber events or the Portland Tech Meetups—small scene, big impact.
I’ve watched friends trade mainland stress for this slower pace, and most say the same thing: the pay is good, the lifestyle is better, and the view never gets old. Great Maine jobs aren’t everywhere, but they’re real, they’re growing, and there’s still space for more.
If any of this feels like your next chapter, speak to a SmarterDegree advisor to discover how you can earn a degree faster and more affordably.