Amazon Jobs in Gorham May Not Be Enough to Buy a Home
Amazon's planned distribution center in Gorham, Maine has been touted as creating full-time jobs that pay nearly triple the federal minimum wage. However, a closer look at the numbers suggests these jobs may not be as lucrative as they seem.
The hourly wage for these positions is reportedly $21 per hour, and assuming a 40-hour workweek, this translates to an annual salary of under $44,000. According to local resident Tom Wenzel, who wrote to The Portland Press Herald, this amount would not be enough to afford even a median-priced home in Gorham, which requires a yearly salary of over $122,000.
Furthermore, the article notes that Maine's housing market is such that a full-time worker at Amazon's facility would also struggle to afford an average two-bedroom apartment, which costs around $32.32 per hour. Wenzel questions whether these jobs truly address the affordability issues facing many in the community.