What Goes on a Maine Pay Stub
Maine stubs start with gross pay and hours, then federal income tax withholding, Social Security at 6.2 percent up to the $184,500 wage base, and Medicare at 1.45 percent. The federal block is the same in Portland, Lewiston, and Bangor.
The Maine line runs on a graduated scale from 5.8 to 7.15 percent across three brackets. Maine has no local income tax. The Maine Paycheck Calculator shows how the three brackets treat different salaries.
Maine Withholding Rules: Form W-4ME
Maine employees complete Form W-4ME, the Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate, when hired. It sets the allowances payroll uses before applying the graduated withholding tables.
Maine's brackets are relatively few, so the W-4ME mostly matters for allowances and extra withholding requests. Keep it updated after household changes.
How Often Maine Employers Have to Pay You
Maine requires paydays at least semimonthly, with no more than 16 days between paydays. That keeps pay gaps short even for monthly-minded employers.
Biweekly is the most common pattern statewide. The regular schedule must be established in advance and followed consistently.
Maine Final Paycheck Timing
Maine requires final wages to be paid on the next regular payday after separation. If you request it, payment must come within two weeks of the request.
Accrued vacation is treated as wages in Maine and must be paid out, so final stubs often include a vacation line. That makes Maine more protective than states where payout depends on policy.
Does Maine Require Itemized Pay Stubs?
Maine takes an access-based approach: employees must be able to access their wage statements and print them at no cost. The statements themselves must itemize wages and deductions.
That means a portal-only stub you cannot print does not meet the standard. If your employer charges for copies or blocks printing, raise it with payroll or the Bureau of Labor Standards.
Worked Example: a $58,000 Salary in Portland
Take a single filer in Portland earning $58,000 a year, paid biweekly with no pre-tax benefits. Maine's graduated scale keeps most of this income in the lower brackets.
| Item | Per paycheck |
| Gross pay (biweekly) | $2,230.77 |
| Federal income tax | ~$183.98 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $138.31 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $32.35 |
| Maine state tax | ~$141.06 |
| Net pay | ~$1,735.08 |
Those "~" marks matter: your real stub shifts with pre-tax benefits, filing status, and any extra withholding you requested. Use the generator above with your own numbers for a stub that matches your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Maine's income tax withholding range in 2026?
Maine withholds on a graduated scale from 5.8 percent to 7.15 percent across three brackets.
What is the Maine withholding form?
Form W-4ME, the Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate. You file it with your employer when hired.
Does Maine require itemized pay stubs?
Employees must have free access to printable, itemized wage statements. A stub you cannot access or print does not comply.
When is my final paycheck due in Maine?
On the next regular payday after separation, or within two weeks if you request payment. Accrued vacation must be paid out as wages.
How often must Maine employers pay employees?
At least semimonthly, with no more than 16 days between paydays.
Related Tools
Try the main Pay Stub Generator for the national version, or the Maine Paycheck Calculator for take-home estimates. Nearby states have their own pages: the Massachusetts Pay Stub Generator, the Connecticut Pay Stub Generator, and the Delaware Pay Stub Generator.
Sources: Maine Revenue Services, Maine Department of Labor. Figures reviewed for 2026. This generator provides an estimate for planning purposes and is not tax or legal advice.