Average Salaries in Vermont
Explore salaries across 541 occupations in Vermont. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $74.1K, +12.6% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates. Coverage: 541 occupations and 289,980 total jobs in Vermont.
How the state compares
Vermont pays modestly above the national average. Most occupations here earn more than their national equivalents, but the gap is smaller than in top-tier markets.
Vermont has a smaller labor market. Some occupations may have limited local demand or a narrower range of employers.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Surgeons, All Other. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in Vermont
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Highest-paid occupations in Vermont
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeons, All Other | $438.5K | 160 |
| Anesthesiologists | $434.8K | 90 |
| Neurologists | $434.7K | 40 |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | $430.8K | 130 |
| Obstetricians And Gynecologists | $418.8K | 90 |
| Physicians, All Other | $343.1K | 440 |
| Psychiatrists | $302.8K | 80 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $283.1K | 40 |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $258.9K | 30 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $239.3K | 240 |
Largest occupations in Vermont
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 8,250 | $37.4K |
| General And Operations Managers | 8,000 | $98.6K |
| Home Health And Personal Care Aides | 7,700 | $41.6K |
| Registered Nurses | 7,410 | $97.5K |
| Cashiers | 7,030 | $35.7K |
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 6,830 | $36K |
| Stockers And Order Fillers | 5,360 | $37.1K |
| Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners | 5,130 | $40.9K |
| Office Clerks, General | 5,100 | $48.3K |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 4,960 | $43.8K |
What Vermont specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in Vermont than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Most concentrated occupations in Vermont
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Community And Social Service Specialists, All Other | 13.53 | $53.2K |
| Commercial Divers | 11.38 | $85.8K |
| Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 7.38 | $102.6K |
| Desktop Publishers | 7.17 | $53.6K |
| Geography Teachers, Postsecondary | 6.15 | $107.8K |
| Stonemasons | 4.96 | $66K |
| Psychiatric Aides | 4.71 | $47.9K |
| Helpers--Carpenters | 4.71 | $44.6K |
| Grounds Maintenance Workers, All Other | 4.49 | $42.7K |
| Foreign Language And Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 4.44 | N/A |
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $89.7K | Neurologists |
| Washington | $86.5K | Cardiologists |
| New York | $83.2K | Cardiologists |
| California | $83.2K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| Massachusetts | $81.2K | Radiologists |
| New Jersey | $80.4K | Radiologists |
| Minnesota | $79.9K | Radiologists |
| Alaska | $79.6K | Emergency Medicine Physicians |
Metros inside Vermont
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Major metros in Vermont
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $78.4K | 109,250 |
Common salary questions for Vermont
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other states with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.