Jobs that actually got a raise in Vermont

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

Cost of living: prices in Vermont run 2.0% below the national average (2024), so a Vermont salary is worth about 1.02× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Vermont.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Vermont

OccupationMedian, Vermont · Real change since 2019

1Waiters and Waitresses$59,140
No formal educational credential
$29,690 – $89,330+51.7%+91.1% nominal
2Computer Occupations, All Other$111,530
Bachelor's degree
$52,950 – $181,020+48.0%+86.4% nominal
3Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$48,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,960 – $80,530+44.0%+81.3% nominal
4Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$73,210
Master's degree
$61,510 – $100,140+38.0%+73.8% nominal
5Coaches and Scouts$59,990
Bachelor's degree
$37,240 – $102,800+36.5%+71.8% nominal
6Community Health Workers$51,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,010 – $62,320+32.6%+67.0% nominal
7Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$44,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,300 – $47,960+29.7%+63.4% nominal
8Library Technicians$50,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,400 – $60,760+28.1%+61.3% nominal
9Roofers$59,040
No formal educational credential
$45,380 – $63,250+27.0%+60.0% nominal
10Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$57,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,720 – $78,800+26.3%+59.0% nominal
11Cooks, Fast Food$38,230
No formal educational credential
$31,540 – $39,650+26.1%+58.8% nominal
12Production Workers, All Other$46,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,000 – $79,580+25.7%+58.2% nominal
13Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$74,310
Bachelor's degree
$50,270 – $89,690+25.6%+58.1% nominal
14Surgical Technologists$60,660
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,510 – $88,460+25.5%+58.0% nominal
15Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$52,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,400 – $61,810+25.5%+58.1% nominal
16Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$61,810
Master's degree
$47,820 – $80,690+25.2%+57.6% nominal
17Machinists$62,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,670 – $95,690+23.3%+55.3% nominal
18Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$94,540
Associate's degree
$66,960 – $125,230+21.9%+53.4% nominal
19Nursing Assistants$47,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,620 – $59,600+21.7%+53.2% nominal
20Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants$38,700
No formal educational credential
$31,980 – $43,740+21.2%+52.7% nominal
21Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$37,300
No formal educational credential
$31,570 – $45,960+21.0%+52.4% nominal
22Chief Executives$175,070
Bachelor's degree
$108,300 – $428,080+19.5%+50.5% nominal
23Crossing Guards and Flaggers$45,410
No formal educational credential
$43,520 – $48,110+19.1%+50.0% nominal
24Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$44,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,950 – $57,470+18.9%+49.7% nominal
25Sewing Machine Operators$40,850
No formal educational credential
$29,140 – $51,630+18.6%+49.4% nominal
26Security Guards$45,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,040 – $72,620+18.4%+49.1% nominal
27Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$46,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,120 – $56,560+18.4%+49.1% nominal
28Lawyers$127,310
Doctoral or professional degree
$85,510 – $336,450+18.2%+48.8% nominal
29Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$60,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,650 – $74,870+18.2%+48.8% nominal
30Chefs and Head Cooks$65,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,950 – $83,040+17.7%+48.2% nominal
31Tree Trimmers and Pruners$62,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,340 – $72,950+17.7%+48.2% nominal
32Urban and Regional Planners$84,750
Master's degree
$61,400 – $103,540+17.4%+47.9% nominal
33Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$88,280
Bachelor's degree
$54,370 – $201,350+17.2%+47.6% nominal
34Human Resources Managers$132,050
Bachelor's degree
$91,650 – $214,350+17.1%+47.4% nominal
35Counselors, All Other$56,220
Master's degree
$49,960 – $84,100+17.1%+47.5% nominal
36Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$49,490
Associate's degree
$48,050 – $58,430+17.0%+47.3% nominal
37Driver/Sales Workers$46,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,090 – $65,800+16.3%+46.5% nominal
38Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$46,370
No formal educational credential
$38,120 – $56,560+16.2%+46.4% nominal
39Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$59,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,760 – $71,050+16.1%+46.2% nominal
40Natural Sciences Managers$131,290
Bachelor's degree
$78,940 – $203,120+15.6%+45.6% nominal
41Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$97,980
Master's degree
$53,190 – $134,690+15.3%+45.2% nominal
42Computer Network Support Specialists$72,400
Associate's degree
$52,950 – $97,740+15.3%+45.2% nominal
43Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$49,730
Associate's degree
$36,650 – $66,020+15.2%+45.0% nominal
44Tire Repairers and Changers$44,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,000 – $46,370+15.1%+44.9% nominal
45Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$36,030
No formal educational credential
$30,150 – $42,140+15.0%+44.9% nominal
46Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$61,160
No formal educational credential
$49,390 – $76,500+14.9%+44.7% nominal
47Registered Nurses$97,460
Bachelor's degree
$77,670 – $126,100+14.9%+44.7% nominal
48Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,360 – $59,960+14.8%+44.6% nominal
49Cooks, Restaurant$45,390
No formal educational credential
$31,210 – $56,180+14.8%+44.6% nominal
50Counter and Rental Clerks$48,430
No formal educational credential
$37,000 – $76,180+14.4%+44.0% nominal

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianVermont	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$59,140	$29,690 – $89,330	+51.7%+91.1% nominal
2	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$111,530	$52,950 – $181,020	+48.0%+86.4% nominal
3	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,650	$30,960 – $80,530	+44.0%+81.3% nominal
4	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$73,210	$61,510 – $100,140	+38.0%+73.8% nominal
5	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$59,990	$37,240 – $102,800	+36.5%+71.8% nominal
6	Community Health WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,500	$44,010 – $62,320	+32.6%+67.0% nominal
7	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,940	$35,300 – $47,960	+29.7%+63.4% nominal
8	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,090	$37,400 – $60,760	+28.1%+61.3% nominal
9	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$59,040	$45,380 – $63,250	+27.0%+60.0% nominal
10	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,620	$44,720 – $78,800	+26.3%+59.0% nominal
11	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$38,230	$31,540 – $39,650	+26.1%+58.8% nominal
12	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,570	$39,000 – $79,580	+25.7%+58.2% nominal
13	Meeting, Convention, and Event PlannersBachelor's degree	$74,310	$50,270 – $89,690	+25.6%+58.1% nominal
14	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,660	$49,510 – $88,460	+25.5%+58.0% nominal
15	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,340	$44,400 – $61,810	+25.5%+58.1% nominal
16	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$61,810	$47,820 – $80,690	+25.2%+57.6% nominal
17	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,680	$40,670 – $95,690	+23.3%+55.3% nominal
18	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$94,540	$66,960 – $125,230	+21.9%+53.4% nominal
19	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,130	$37,620 – $59,600	+21.7%+53.2% nominal
20	Automotive and Watercraft Service AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$38,700	$31,980 – $43,740	+21.2%+52.7% nominal
21	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$37,300	$31,570 – $45,960	+21.0%+52.4% nominal
22	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$175,070	$108,300 – $428,080	+19.5%+50.5% nominal
23	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$45,410	$43,520 – $48,110	+19.1%+50.0% nominal
24	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,850	$39,950 – $57,470	+18.9%+49.7% nominal
25	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$40,850	$29,140 – $51,630	+18.6%+49.4% nominal
26	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,550	$36,040 – $72,620	+18.4%+49.1% nominal
27	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,480	$39,120 – $56,560	+18.4%+49.1% nominal
28	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$127,310	$85,510 – $336,450	+18.2%+48.8% nominal
29	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,890	$45,650 – $74,870	+18.2%+48.8% nominal
30	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,440	$48,950 – $83,040	+17.7%+48.2% nominal
31	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,170	$48,340 – $72,950	+17.7%+48.2% nominal
32	Urban and Regional PlannersMaster's degree	$84,750	$61,400 – $103,540	+17.4%+47.9% nominal
33	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$88,280	$54,370 – $201,350	+17.2%+47.6% nominal
34	Human Resources ManagersBachelor's degree	$132,050	$91,650 – $214,350	+17.1%+47.4% nominal
35	Counselors, All OtherMaster's degree	$56,220	$49,960 – $84,100	+17.1%+47.5% nominal
36	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$49,490	$48,050 – $58,430	+17.0%+47.3% nominal
37	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,300	$33,090 – $65,800	+16.3%+46.5% nominal
38	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$46,370	$38,120 – $56,560	+16.2%+46.4% nominal
39	Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,790	$44,760 – $71,050	+16.1%+46.2% nominal
40	Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree	$131,290	$78,940 – $203,120	+15.6%+45.6% nominal
41	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$97,980	$53,190 – $134,690	+15.3%+45.2% nominal
42	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$72,400	$52,950 – $97,740	+15.3%+45.2% nominal
43	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$49,730	$36,650 – $66,020	+15.2%+45.0% nominal
44	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,480	$39,000 – $46,370	+15.1%+44.9% nominal
45	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$36,030	$30,150 – $42,140	+15.0%+44.9% nominal
46	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$61,160	$49,390 – $76,500	+14.9%+44.7% nominal
47	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$97,460	$77,670 – $126,100	+14.9%+44.7% nominal
48	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,640	$48,360 – $59,960	+14.8%+44.6% nominal
49	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$45,390	$31,210 – $56,180	+14.8%+44.6% nominal
50	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$48,430	$37,000 – $76,180	+14.4%+44.0% nominal

More for Vermont

Metro areas in Vermont

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

Burlington-South Burlington

By field in Vermont

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Vermont to rank honestly.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Vermont

More for Vermont

Metro areas in Vermont

By field in Vermont

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state