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Here are the largest employers in Maine, based on the most recent data from the Maine Department of Labor. This list reflects total Maine workforce, with the State of Maine as the largest public employer and MaineHealth as the largest private employer.
1. State of Maine — Maine's state government is the single largest employer in the state, with over 30,000 employees across fields including healthcare, education, transportation, public safety, and administration.
2. MaineHealth — Maine's largest private employer and largest health system, with more than 22,000 employees statewide. Anchored by Maine Medical Center in Portland — the state's largest hospital — MaineHealth operates hospitals, clinics, and care facilities across Maine and into New Hampshire. See our complete guide to MaineHealth jobs and how to get hired.
3. Hannaford Supermarkets — Headquartered in Scarborough, the regional grocery chain employs roughly 9,000 people across its Maine stores, distribution centers, and corporate offices.
4. Walmart — The retail giant employs approximately 8,000 people across its stores, supercenters, and Sam's Club locations throughout Maine.
5. Bath Iron Works — A General Dynamics shipyard based in Bath, Bath Iron Works is one of Maine's largest private employers and a cornerstone of the state's manufacturing economy, employing roughly 6,000 to 6,500 skilled shipbuilders, engineers, and tradespeople building ships for the U.S. Navy.
6. Northern Light Health — Eastern Maine's largest health system, headquartered in Brewer and anchored by Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. The system employs more than 12,000 people across ten member hospitals, nursing homes, and dozens of clinics statewide, making it one of Maine's largest healthcare employers.
7. MaineGeneral Health — Based in Augusta and operating the Alfond Center for Health, MaineGeneral employs roughly 4,000 to 4,500 people across the Kennebec Valley region.
8. L.L.Bean — The iconic outdoor retailer, headquartered in Freeport, employs approximately 4,000 to 4,500 people in Maine across its retail, manufacturing, and corporate operations.
9. Central Maine Healthcare — A healthcare system based in Lewiston operating Central Maine Medical Center and affiliated facilities, employing roughly 2,500 to 3,000 people across Androscoggin County and the surrounding region.
10. Shaw's Supermarkets — A regional grocery chain with locations throughout Maine, Shaw's employs roughly 2,000 to 2,500 people across its stores and operations statewide.
Note: Employee counts are based on Maine Department of Labor data and the health systems' own reported figures. Healthcare systems are counted at the system level where data is available. Figures shift over time as employers expand or reduce their workforce.
For more on Maine's job market, see our guides to the highest paying jobs in Maine and the largest employers in Portland Maine.
Maine Career Guides
Thinking about starting or changing careers in Maine? Our step-by-step guides walk you through how to enter some of the state's most in-demand professions:
How to Become a Nurse in Maine — licensing, schools, salary, and where to apply in Maine's most in-demand healthcare field.
How to Become a CNA in Maine — the fastest, most affordable way to start a Maine healthcare career, including free training options.
How to Get a CDL in Maine — earn your commercial driver's license and enter Maine's high-demand trucking and transportation sector.
How to Become an Electrician in Maine — build a six-figure-potential trade career with no college degree or student debt.
How to Become a Teacher in Maine — certification pathways, exams, and how to teach in Maine's highest-need subject areas.