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A Workstream hiring specialist can help you identify high impact ways to improve your applicant experience, and even help you determine what is a good hourly wage for your location and business.
The minimum wage in Maine is $14.15 per hour as of January 1, 2023. This is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. The minimum wage in Maine for tipped employees is $6.90 per hour. However, if the employee's tips combined with the hourly wage do not equal the minimum wage, the employer must make up the difference.
Maine's minimum wage applies to all workers, regardless of age, race, or sex. However, there are some exceptions, such as workers with disabilities and full-time students working in certain jobs.
It's important to remember that the Hourly Wage Index data above reflects gross wages, or the amount of money an employee earns before accounting for payroll deductions like taxes, benefits, or wage garnishments. Due to variability in tax rates across locations, slightly lower gross wages in a certain location might result in higher take home pay, or vice versa.
This question is a difficult one to answer, as a "good hourly wage" is highly subjective according to experience, work responsibilities, cost of living, and other factors. We recommend using Hourly Wage Index data as a starting point. Once you have established a baseline for certain positions, do further research into similar businesses in your area.
Lastly, consider surveying your employees. They're the best resource to help you know what is a good hourly wage, what competitive pay looks like in your location, and how competitive wages change in your industry over time.
We know that getting applicants to pay attention to your business can be extremely challenging, and that offering competitive pay is a huge part of that. Wages aren’t everything, however! Applicant experience is another important factor that can help set you apart from your competition. A few examples include: