Nursing jobs in Maine are in steady demand: the state projects a shortfall of more than 2,800 nurses by 2030, and registered nurses in Portland earn a median of about $82,500 a year. This guide covers pay by role (RN, LPN, CNA, nurse practitioner, travel), the largest nursing employers in Maine, how licensing works, and where to find current openings.
Whether you're a new graduate, an experienced RN relocating to Maine, or a CNA looking to move up, use the sections below to compare roles and employers, then browse live nursing listings from Maine employers on JobsInMaine.com.
Registered Nurse (RN) Jobs in Maine
RNs are the largest group of nursing hires in Maine, and Portland pays the most: a median of about $82,500 a year (roughly $40 an hour), with the top 10% earning around $95,700. Statewide, the BLS average is lower at about $75,000 a year, so where you work matters.
Portland (median, entry to top earners): $71,100 – $95,700 a year (about $34 – $46 an hour)
Portland (BLS average): about $78,000 a year
Bangor (BLS average): about $76,300 a year
Lewiston/Auburn (BLS average): about $69,700 a year
Maine statewide (BLS average): about $75,000 a year
Most RN openings are in hospitals, primary care, long-term care, and home health. Hospitals typically require an active Maine (or multistate) RN license.
Many Maine employers hire new graduates directly. MaineHealth runs a yearlong Nurse Residency Program for nurses with less than one year of experience, accredited with distinction by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. At Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, every nurse hired with less than a year of experience takes part in a 12-month residency, starting either before or after passing the NCLEX.
Pay extras vary by employer and position. Northern Light Health postings, for example, list sign-on bonuses for eligible positions and premium pay for evening, night, and weekend shifts. Amounts are not usually published, so ask about them before you accept an offer.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Jobs in Maine
LPNs in Bangor average about $21.76 an hour, with most earning between $18 and $30 (PayScale, 10th to 90th percentile; data last updated March 2024). LPNs work in long-term care, rehabilitation, clinics, and home health, and per diem (as-needed) shifts are common.
Becoming an LPN takes a Board-approved practical nursing program plus passing the NCLEX-PN. It is also a common step toward RN through bridge programs.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Jobs in Maine
CNAs in Maine average about $19.43 an hour, or roughly $40,400 a year (ZipRecruiter data). That is in line with New Hampshire ($19.51) and Rhode Island ($19.65), and a little below Massachusetts ($21.91).
CNA is the fastest way into healthcare: training programs are short, and openings are plentiful in nursing homes, assisted living, hospitals, and home care. Many Maine health systems hire CNAs and then support them through LPN or RN schooling.
Nurse Practitioner (NP) Jobs in Maine
Nurse practitioners in Portland earn a base salary of about $90,000 to $119,000, averaging roughly $105,000 (PayScale, 26 self-reported salary profiles, data last updated December 2024). Figures from other sources vary, so treat this as a ballpark. NPs are in demand in primary care and rural clinics, where Maine's aging population is driving visit volume.
NPs need a master's or doctoral degree, national certification, and Maine advanced practice licensure on top of an RN license.
Travel Nursing Jobs in Maine
Travel RN contracts in Maine currently list at roughly $2,300 to $3,100 in gross weekly pay; one Lewiston med-surg/telemetry posting advertises $2,322 a week. Pay varies by specialty, hours (36 vs. 48 per week), and location, and weekly figures often include stipends.
The average travel nurse contract runs 13 weeks, though some are as short as 8 weeks or as long as 26. Assignments concentrate in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, including rural areas with the hardest-to-fill roles. An active Maine or multistate license is required (see licensing below).
Top Employers Hiring Nurses in Maine
MaineHealth is the largest employer in the state, with more than 22,000 employees. Employment sizes below are ranges from the Maine Department of Labor's Q3 2024 top employers list.
MaineHealth (Portland, statewide system): 22,001 – 22,500 employees
MaineGeneral Health (Augusta and Waterville): 4,501 – 5,000 employees
Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center (Bangor): 3,501 – 4,000 employees
Central Maine Healthcare (Lewiston): 2,501 – 3,000 employees
Northern Light Mercy Hospital (Portland): 1,501 – 2,000 employees
St. Joseph Hospital (Bangor): 1,001 – 1,500 employees
St. Mary's Regional Medical Center (Lewiston): 1,001 – 1,500 employees
York Hospital (York): 501 – 1,000 employees
Northern Light A.R. Gould Hospital (Presque Isle): 501 – 1,000 employees
Redington-Fairview General Hospital (Skowhegan): 501 – 1,000 employees
Outpatient and community employers such as Martin's Point Health Care and Penobscot Community Health Care also hire nurses.
Maine Nursing License Requirements and the Nurse Licensure Compact
Maine is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a nurse with a multistate license from another compact state can practice in Maine without a separate license. Nurses living in non-compact states apply for a Maine single-state license.
RN: complete a Board-approved associate or bachelor's nursing program and pass the NCLEX-RN.
LPN: complete a Board-approved practical nursing program and pass the NCLEX-PN.
Out-of-state nurses: apply by endorsement, with license verification from your original state (often through Nursys).
Renewal: every two years on your birthday, online; Maine does not require continuing education hours for RN or LPN renewal, but you attest to continued competency.
Apply through the Maine Nurse Portal and confirm current fees and requirements with the Maine State Board of Nursing.
Why Demand for Nurses in Maine Is High
Maine's Nursing Action Coalition projects a shortage of more than 2,800 nurses by 2030, even though nearly 1,000 nursing students a year have taken the licensing exam since 2022. The driver is age: Maine's population 65 and older is projected to top 425,000 by 2030, roughly double its 2010 level.
The state estimates it needs about 500 more licensed nurses per year beyond the current pace, and it has approved tuition reimbursement to attract nursing educators, especially in rural and southern Maine. For job seekers, that means leverage on pay, schedules, and sign-on offers.
How to Find and Apply for Nursing Jobs in Maine
1. Browse current nursing openings on JobsInMaine.com and filter by role (RN, LPN, CNA, NP) and city.
2. Confirm your license status: Maine or multistate license for RNs and LPNs.
3. Compare employers by region, benefits, and pay, using the employer list above.
4. Apply directly to the employer, and ask about sign-on bonuses, shift differentials, and tuition support.
Sources
Salary.com: RN salary, Portland, ME
Trusted Health: Maine nurse salary guide (BLS data)
PayScale: LPN hourly pay, Bangor (updated March 2024)
PayScale: Nurse Practitioner salary, Portland (updated December 2024)
CCI Training: CNA salary guide (ZipRecruiter data)
Maine Public: nursing workforce report
Maine Dept. of Labor: top 50 employers
NursingLicensure.org: Maine license requirements
CareerBuilder: travel RN posting, Lewiston
MaineHealth: Nurse Residency earns national accreditation
Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center: Nurse Residency Program
Core Medical Group: length of travel nurse contracts
Hiring in Maine?
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More for Maine employers: what it costs to hire an employee in Maine, Maine pay transparency law, Maine employment laws, Maine employee benefits required by law, Maine paid family leave, and how to post a job in Maine.