Maine's coolest careers? Think boots, boats & beer

Photo / Courtesy of Pixabay A new national survey reveals the "coolest jobs' in every state, including Maine.

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When it comes to dream jobs in Vacationland, three stand out as the dreamiest in a national survey conducted by career.io, an AI-powered career platform with job search and career advancement tools.

To find out what gigs are most desirable, researchers surveyed 3,002 respondents, asking them to name the coolest jobs in every state.

In Maine, the most sought-after roles are with large, well-known employers.

The most desirable job in the Pine Tree State — and No. 6 nationwide — is an L.L.Bean product designer, who reportedly can earn an annual salary of $83,000 to $133,000.

“You’d prototype boots or tents, test them in Maine’s wilderness, and refine them for real-word use,” the survey blurb notes. “For creatives who crave the outdoors and love smart gear, this role brings form, function and fresh air together.”

No. 2 on the hottest gigs list is a design director at Bath Iron Works, the midcoast shipbuilder owned by Reston, Va.-based General Dynamics Corp. The salary for engineers is listed as $90,000 to $145,000-plus by career.io.

“You’d help shape warships that blend stealth, power and cutting-edge tech – all from Maine’s scenic coast,” the website notes. “It’s a mix of hands-on building and national impact. For defense-minded engineers, this job offers craftsmanship with global stakes and salty air on the side.

And No. 3 for Maine is an “innovation brewer” at Portland-based Allagash Brewing Co., the state’s largest brewer whose founder Rob Tod was recently honored as a Mainebiz Business Leader of the Year.

Innovation brewers at Allagash “earn competitive salaries salaries crafting experimental beers that push the limits of flavor,’ according to career.io “It’s a role where chemistry meets creativity, and your work ends up in award-winning bottles nationwide.”

Nate Wildes, executive director of Live + Work in Maine and managing partner of Flight Deck Brewing at Brunswick Landing, welcomed the survey findings.

"One of the many reasons talented people choose to live and work in Maine is the plethora of opportunities to do big work, in a small town," he told Mainebiz. "These examples are proof that in Maine, you can have quality of life and impact of career.”

U.S. top five

Nationwide, the top five dream jobs in the careers.io survey are: animator at Pixar Animation Studios in California; paleontologist at the Field Museum in Chicago; research scientist at the Hershey Co. in Pennsylvania; wildlife biologist at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming; and marine biologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center in Honolulu.