Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Vermont

Each occupation's median wage in Vermont compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Vermont pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 · vs. national

1Waiters and Waitresses$59,140
No formal educational credential
$29,690 – $89,330+67.9%
2Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$48,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,960 – $80,530+35.9%
3Bartenders$45,450
No formal educational credential
$29,970 – $91,400+32.4%
4Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$49,730
Associate's degree
$36,650 – $66,020+30.4%
5Physicians, All Other$343,050
Doctoral or professional degree
$174,990 – $517,900+29.0%
6Emergency Medicine Physicians$430,820
Doctoral or professional degree
$110,670 – $451,230+28.4%
7Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$44,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,300 – $47,960+28.1%
8Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$81,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,910 – $90,820+28.0%
9Coaches and Scouts$59,990
Bachelor's degree
$37,240 – $102,800+26.8%
10Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$83,820
Bachelor's degree
$64,730 – $98,160+26.5%
11Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$78,680
Bachelor's degree
$56,460 – $101,120+25.0%
12Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$97,980
Master's degree
$53,190 – $134,690+24.6%
13Tutors$53,920
Some college, no degree
$37,390 – $81,960+24.4%
14Cooks, Fast Food$38,230
No formal educational credential
$31,540 – $39,650+23.8%
15Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$46,370
No formal educational credential
$38,120 – $56,560+23.8%
16Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$57,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,720 – $78,800+23.4%
17Writers and Authors$94,430
Bachelor's degree
$73,290 – $132,810+22.8%
18Tree Trimmers and Pruners$62,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,340 – $72,950+22.0%
19Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$57,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,210 – $98,730+21.5%
20Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$74,310
Bachelor's degree
$50,270 – $89,690+21.5%
21Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$73,210
Master's degree
$61,510 – $100,140+21.4%
22Cooks, Restaurant$45,390
No formal educational credential
$31,210 – $56,180+21.4%
23Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$58,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,700 – $75,980+21.3%
24First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$59,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,680 – $77,900+20.9%
25Travel Agents$60,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,270 – $84,690+20.7%
26Tour and Travel Guides$45,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,070 – $65,250+20.5%
27First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$58,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,580 – $68,610+20.4%
28Dentists, General$204,960
Doctoral or professional degree
$112,490 – $326,360+19.9%
29Security Guards$45,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,040 – $72,620+19.8%
30Parts Salespersons$46,260
No formal educational credential
$36,840 – $60,570+19.8%
31Floral Designers$44,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,010 – $48,820+19.7%
32Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$79,220
Bachelor's degree
$62,090 – $99,730+19.5%
33Healthcare Social Workers$81,140
Master's degree
$61,760 – $102,820+19.5%
34Driver/Sales Workers$46,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,090 – $65,800+19.4%
35Crossing Guards and Flaggers$45,410
No formal educational credential
$43,520 – $48,110+19.2%
36Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$43,800
Some college, no degree
$29,140 – $51,580+19.1%
37Food Batchmakers$50,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,750 – $62,070+18.7%
38Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$59,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,340 – $86,190+18.3%
39Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$46,230
No formal educational credential
$36,590 – $61,950+18.1%
40Bus Drivers, School$56,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,840 – $61,970+18.1%
41Tire Repairers and Changers$44,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,000 – $46,370+18.0%
42Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$94,540
Associate's degree
$66,960 – $125,230+18.0%
43Lodging Managers$81,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,860 – $121,230+17.6%
44Counter and Rental Clerks$48,430
No formal educational credential
$37,000 – $76,180+17.3%
45Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$53,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,640 – $99,470+16.9%
46Highway Maintenance Workers$58,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,080 – $67,910+16.3%
47Home Health and Personal Care Aides$41,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,310 – $48,040+16.2%
48Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling$92,320
Bachelor's degree
$56,390 – $132,840+16.1%
49Production Workers, All Other$46,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,000 – $79,580+16.1%
50Loan Officers$88,710
Bachelor's degree
$56,820 – $168,070+15.7%

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	vs. national
1	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$59,140	$29,690 – $89,330	+67.9%
2	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,650	$30,960 – $80,530	+35.9%
3	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$45,450	$29,970 – $91,400	+32.4%
4	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$49,730	$36,650 – $66,020	+30.4%
5	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$343,050	$174,990 – $517,900	+29.0%
6	Emergency Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$430,820	$110,670 – $451,230	+28.4%
7	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,940	$35,300 – $47,960	+28.1%
8	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,800	$49,910 – $90,820	+28.0%
9	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$59,990	$37,240 – $102,800	+26.8%
10	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$83,820	$64,730 – $98,160	+26.5%
11	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$78,680	$56,460 – $101,120	+25.0%
12	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$97,980	$53,190 – $134,690	+24.6%
13	TutorsSome college, no degree	$53,920	$37,390 – $81,960	+24.4%
14	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$38,230	$31,540 – $39,650	+23.8%
15	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$46,370	$38,120 – $56,560	+23.8%
16	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,620	$44,720 – $78,800	+23.4%
17	Writers and AuthorsBachelor's degree	$94,430	$73,290 – $132,810	+22.8%
18	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,170	$48,340 – $72,950	+22.0%
19	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,300	$34,210 – $98,730	+21.5%
20	Meeting, Convention, and Event PlannersBachelor's degree	$74,310	$50,270 – $89,690	+21.5%
21	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$73,210	$61,510 – $100,140	+21.4%
22	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$45,390	$31,210 – $56,180	+21.4%
23	Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,890	$47,700 – $75,980	+21.3%
24	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,340	$43,680 – $77,900	+20.9%
25	Travel AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,560	$36,270 – $84,690	+20.7%
26	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,920	$40,070 – $65,250	+20.5%
27	First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,490	$38,580 – $68,610	+20.4%
28	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$204,960	$112,490 – $326,360	+19.9%
29	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,550	$36,040 – $72,620	+19.8%
30	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$46,260	$36,840 – $60,570	+19.8%
31	Floral DesignersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,720	$35,010 – $48,820	+19.7%
32	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$79,220	$62,090 – $99,730	+19.5%
33	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$81,140	$61,760 – $102,820	+19.5%
34	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,300	$33,090 – $65,800	+19.4%
35	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$45,410	$43,520 – $48,110	+19.2%
36	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$43,800	$29,140 – $51,580	+19.1%
37	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,180	$36,750 – $62,070	+18.7%
38	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,470	$40,340 – $86,190	+18.3%
39	Landscaping and Groundskeeping WorkersNo formal educational credential	$46,230	$36,590 – $61,950	+18.1%
40	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,580	$39,840 – $61,970	+18.1%
41	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,480	$39,000 – $46,370	+18.0%
42	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$94,540	$66,960 – $125,230	+18.0%
43	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,440	$48,860 – $121,230	+17.6%
44	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$48,430	$37,000 – $76,180	+17.3%
45	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,410	$39,640 – $99,470	+16.9%
46	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,460	$47,080 – $67,910	+16.3%
47	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,600	$31,310 – $48,040	+16.2%
48	Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except GamblingBachelor's degree	$92,320	$56,390 – $132,840	+16.1%
49	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,570	$39,000 – $79,580	+16.1%
50	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$88,710	$56,820 – $168,070	+15.7%

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 pay the biggest premium in Vermont

More for Vermont

Metro areas in Vermont

By field in Vermont

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state