Is Vermont a good state for your salary to go far?

Vermont ranks #12 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 103.1 across 361 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 98.0 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.

What is the cost of living in Vermont?

Vermont's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 98.0, where the US average is 100. That is at or below the national average, so a dollar buys as much as or more than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Vermont

Where Your Salary Goes Furthest in Vermont

Vermont ranks #12 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index (mean 103.1, base = 100). Cost of living 98.0 (US = 100); top income tax 8.75%.

Does a salary go further in Vermont? (cost of living + state tax)

In Vermont, the cost of living is 98.0 on the BEA index (US = 100) and the Gera US Real Pay Index averages 103.1 across 361 occupations, ranking it #12 of 51 states for how far pay goes after 2025 state income tax and 2024 BEA cost of living. Real BLS OEWS; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Vermont ranks #12 of 51 states. Mean across 361 occupations; 100 = the average state, 103.1 means pay goes 3.1% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

103.1

Real pay by occupation in Vermont (best first)

Occupation	BLS median	Real pay	Index
Waiters and Waitresses	$59,140	$58,778	174.0
First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers	$78,110	$76,907	137.4
Bartenders	$45,450	$45,271	134.6
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists	$48,650	$48,428	133.0
Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians	$72,350	$71,415	131.2
Private Detectives and Investigators	$67,910	$67,182	129.7
Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks	$44,940	$44,767	129.3
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners	$74,310	$73,284	127.8
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers	$73,210	$72,235	127.1
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary	$97,980	$95,852	127.1
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors	$57,300	$56,962	125.4
Coaches and Scouts	$59,990	$59,616	124.5
Tutors	$53,920	$53,628	124.3
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education	$49,730	$49,493	124.2
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary	$43,800	$43,643	123.6
Driver/Sales Workers	$46,300	$46,109	122.6
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians	$78,680	$77,450	122.2
Tour and Travel Guides	$45,920	$45,734	121.7
Food Batchmakers	$50,180	$49,937	121.4
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers	$58,490	$58,136	120.8
Bill and Account Collectors	$57,630	$57,288	120.6
Cooks, Fast Food	$38,230	$38,147	120.0
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters	$57,620	$57,278	119.9
Travel Agents	$60,560	$60,174	119.9
Cooks, Restaurant	$45,390	$45,211	119.7
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria	$46,370	$46,178	119.5
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers	$81,800	$80,425	119.5
Self-Enrichment Teachers	$53,190	$52,907	118.8
Library Technicians	$50,090	$49,849	118.7
Bus Drivers, School	$56,580	$56,252	118.6
Floral Designers	$44,720	$44,550	118.6
Opticians, Dispensing	$57,350	$57,012	118.4
Home Health and Personal Care Aides	$41,600	$41,472	118.3
First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers	$59,340	$58,975	117.9
Crossing Guards and Flaggers	$45,410	$45,231	117.5
Tree Trimmers and Pruners	$62,170	$61,709	117.5
Fast Food and Counter Workers	$36,030	$35,976	117.3
Healthcare Social Workers	$81,140	$79,796	117.1
Counter and Rental Clerks	$48,430	$48,211	116.9
Protective Service Workers, All Other	$57,490	$57,150	116.8

Showing the 40 highest real-pay occupations of 361 BLS publishes for Vermont. Real pay = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the 2024 BEA cost of living (98.0, US = 100).

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Vermont, a $85,000 salary is worth about $79,179 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $7,437 (≈ top marginal 8.75% (upper bound)) · take-home $77,563 · BEA cost of living 98.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $95,952, a $16,773 gain over Vermont.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$95,952	88.6
2	Arkansas	$93,959	86.9
3	Louisiana	$93,473	88.2
4	Mississippi	$93,453	87.0
5	Iowa	$93,172	87.8
6	North Dakota	$93,161	89.0
7	Tennessee	$92,522	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$92,167	87.8
9	Wyoming	$91,703	92.7
10	Alabama	$90,911	88.8
11	Kentucky	$90,507	90.2
12	West Virginia	$90,397	89.5

Browse US jobs with salaries

Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Vermont real pay — FAQ

Is Vermont a good state for your salary to go far?: Vermont ranks #12 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 103.1 across 361 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 98.0 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.
What is the cost of living in Vermont?: Vermont's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 98.0, where the US average is 100. That is at or below the national average, so a dollar buys as much as or more than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

Compare other states

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for Vermont is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.