Burlington Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Burlington, VT: $28.86/hr median hourly wage, $60,020 median annual salary, cost of living index 118, and $14.01/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Vermont taxes.
Burlington Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Burlington, VT is $28.86/hr,and the median annual wage is $60,020. Entry-level pay estimates around $17.89/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $40.98/hr, and the local minimum wage is $14.01/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Burlington-South Burlington, VT metropolitan statistical area (120,150 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Burlington shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$60,020
$28.86/hr
Cost of Living
118
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$14.01
per hour
Unemployment
2.2%
rate
Burlington, VT Overview
Population
45,236
Median Salary
$60,020
Average Salary
$74,360
Avg Commute
18 min
Median Home Price
$380,000
Median Rent
$1,600/mo
Job Growth
+1.5%
Sales Tax
7%
Burlington is located in Vermont with a population of 45,236. The median annual wage across all occupations is $60,020 ($28.86/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Burlington-South Burlington, VT metro), which is $9,040 above the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 18 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1.5%.
Burlington Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Burlington, VT built around the $60,020 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Burlington-South Burlington, VT metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $37,212 | $17.89/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $60,020 | $28.86/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $85,228 | $40.98/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $106,836 | $51.37/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Burlington Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Burlington, VT, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$48,555
$4,046.26/month · $1,867.51/biweekly · Effective Rate: 19.1%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,867.51 take-home per paycheck after estimated Vermont and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$60,020
Federal Tax
-$5,022
State Tax
-$1,851
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$4,592
Net Pay
$48,555
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $5,001.67 | $60,020.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$418.53 | -$5,022.40 |
| Vermont State Tax (3.08% eff.) | -$154.24 | -$1,850.92 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$310.10 | -$3,721.24 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$72.52 | -$870.29 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $4,046.26 | $48,555.15 |
Salary Comparison: Burlington vs Other Cities
See how Burlington's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington, VT | $60,020 | 118 | $50,864 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| South Burlington, VT | $60,020 | 115 | $52,191 |
| Stratford, CT | $60,036 | 108.6 | $55,282 |
| Lancaster, NY | $60,183 | 132.5 | $45,421 |
| Clarkstown, NY | $60,194 | 139.6 | $43,119 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Burlington
Burlington's cost of living index is 118 (national average = 100). Living in Burlington is 18% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$380,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,600
Annual Rent Cost
$19,200
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $48,555 annual take-home pay in Burlington has the purchasing power of approximately $41,148 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $70,824 in Burlington to match a $60,020 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in Burlington
Burlington's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $60,020.
Salary Tips for Burlington Workers
- Maximize pre-tax deductions. With a top 8.75% state income tax rate, maximizing 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026) and HSA contributions can significantly reduce both your federal and state tax burden.
- Research top industries. Burlington's top industries include Healthcare, Education, Technology. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $60,020 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Other Cities in Vermont
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Burlington salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Burlington-South Burlington, VT metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Burlington indexed at 118.
- Median salary: $60,020 annual, $28.86 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Burlington-South Burlington, VT MSA (120,150 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $74,360 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Burlington was $60,000.
- Tax burden reflects Vermont 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 8.75%) (no local income tax), sales tax (7%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Burlington: 2.2%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Healthcare, Education, Technology, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1.5% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Vermont.
- Housing context: median home price $380,000, median rent $1,600/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Burlington, VT:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Burlington unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Burlington QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Vermont, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Burlington's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Vermont labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Burlington, VT?
The median hourly wage in Burlington, VT is $28.86 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Burlington-South Burlington, VT metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $60,020. Entry-level workers are estimated around $17.89/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $40.98/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Burlington, VT?
The median salary in Burlington, VT is $60,020 per year, or $28.86 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Burlington-South Burlington, VT metro area). The BLS mean salary is $74,360. This is $9,040 above the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Burlington, VT?
Burlington's cost of living index is 118 (national average = 100), meaning it is 18% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $380,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,600.
What are the best industries in Burlington?
The top industries in Burlington, VT include Healthcare, Education, Technology. The city has a job growth rate of 1.5% and an unemployment rate of 2.2%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $60,020.
How does Burlington's salary compare to other cities?
Burlington's median salary of $60,020 is 17.7% above the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 118), the real purchasing power is approximately $50,864.
What is the minimum wage in Burlington, VT?
The minimum wage in Burlington, VT is $14.01 per hour. This equals approximately $29,141 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $6.76 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.