PORTLAND (AP) — The salaries of some Maine hospital executives are under fire by critics who say they add to the high cost of health care in the state.

Ten hospital employees in Maine were paid more than $1 million in 2011, according to the latest financial data released by the Internal Revenue Service.

Overall, the average salary for Maine’s top hospital and health care group executives was slightly higher than the national average, according to a Maine Sunday Telegram (http://bit.ly/1a5r7xy ) analysis.

Democratic state Sen. Geoffrey Gratwick said high salaries lead to high costs which hurt the economy. Critics say the hospitals continue to pay high salaries while at the same time laying off rank-and-file employees.

But defenders said the salaries in Maine are below the average for the Northeast.