This entry preserves historical education figures that compare Maine with the other states and the District of Columbia. The tables cover different years and should be read as an archival series rather than a description of current conditions.
How to read the figures: ranks and dollar amounts are tied to the years shown. Definitions and reporting methods can vary across series, so direct comparisons should remain within each table.
Average teacher salaries
Across this historical series, Maine’s average teacher salary remained below the national figure. Its rank varied from 31st to 47th.
| Year | Rank | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 39 | $894 | $1,441 |
| 1950 | 40 | $2,115 | $3,010 |
| 1960 | 47 | $3,694 | $5,174 |
| 1970 | 31 | $8,059 | $9,047 |
| 1980 | 42 | $13,743 | $16,715 |
| 1990 | 37 | $27,831 | $32,638 |
| 2000 | 31 | $38,732 | $43,768 |
| 2009 | 44 | $44,700 | $54,300 |
| 2016* | 33 | $50,584 | $58,064 |
Per-pupil expenditures
The recorded rank rose substantially between 1980 and 2009. Dollar values belong to the source series and should not be treated as present-day costs.
| Year | Rank | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 36 | $2,828 | $3,277 |
| 1980 | 40 | $3,586 | $4,426 |
| 1990 | 15 | $6,304 | $6,016 |
| 2000 | 14 | $6,828 | $6,508 |
| 2007 | 9 | $12,994 | $10,209 |
| 2009 | 7 | $14,576 | $10,905 |
Student–teacher ratios
Lower ratios indicate fewer students per teacher. In these data, Maine reported lower ratios than the national figures for each school level shown.
| Level and year | Rank | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public primary | |||
| 2001 | 7 | 13.4 | 16.0 |
| 2007 | 1 | 9.0 | 15.6 |
| Public middle | |||
| 2001 | 13 | 14.1 | 15.5 |
| 2007 | 1 | 8.7 | 15.5 |
| Public high | |||
| 2001 | 17 | 13.9 | 14.8 |
| 2007 | 2 | 9.5 | 16.5 |
| All public schools | |||
| 2007 | 1 | 9.0 | 15.8 |
| 2012 | 4 | 12.2 | 16.0 |
Educational attainment
These figures describe residents age 25 and older. Maine’s high-school completion percentage exceeded the national percentage in each listed year; bachelor’s-degree attainment was close to, but below, the national figure.
| Level and year | Rank | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| High school or higher | |||
| 1990 | 18 | 79% | 75% |
| 2000 | 12 | 85% | 80% |
| 2007 | 10 | 89% | 85% |
| 2010 | 11 | 85% | 80% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more | |||
| 1990 | 29 | 19% | 20% |
| 2000 | 28 | 23% | 24% |
| 2007 | 20 | 27% | 28% |
| 2010 | 29 | 23% | 26% |
Interpreting the archive
The measures point in different directions. Maine ranked relatively well in the selected student–teacher ratio and per-pupil spending series while its teacher salaries were below the national average. Educational attainment was comparatively strong at the high-school level and near the national range for bachelor’s degrees.
Population composition can affect attainment measures because these tables describe all residents age 25 and older, not only people participating in the labor force. For a connected measure, see graduation rates. A broader comparison is available in How Maine Ranks.
Source notes
- *2016 salary figure: a 2017 newspaper report citing Maine Education Association data.
- Teacher salaries and per-pupil expenditures: historical federal statistical tables concerning elementary and secondary education staff and finances.
- Student–teacher ratios: National Center for Education Statistics tables for public elementary and secondary schools.
- Educational attainment: federal statistical tables by state, including decennial census material.
- Dollar figures and rankings reproduce the historical series as presented; they have not been adjusted to 2026 values.