Minimum wage in Vermont

Vermont's basic minimum wage is $14.42 an hour (applicable to employers of two or more employees). That is $7.17 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25. The rate is adjusted annually by a formula set in state law, so the figure here is the one DOL showed as of July 1, 2026. Employers may pay tipped employees a cash wage of $7.21 and count tips toward the rest, with a tip credit of up to $7.21. Against Vermont's $14.42 floor for FLSA-covered employers, among its 3 neighbors New York ($17.00) and Massachusetts ($15.00) are higher and New Hampshire ($7.25) is lower.

Verified against the U.S. Department of Labor on (DOL's state table updated ). Source: State Minimum Wage Laws, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees.

At a glance

Key minimum wage facts for Vermont
ItemValue
State minimum wage$14.42
Against the federal $7.25$7.17 above federal
Floor for FLSA-covered employers$14.42 (the higher of the state and federal rates)
Scheduled changeAdjusted annually by a formula in state law (no amount listed by DOL)
Overtime threshold in state lawWeekly - 40
Tipped cash wage$7.21
Maximum tip credit50% of the applicable minimum wage ($7.21)

Rates as DOL lists them

Basic minimum rates in Vermont with their conditions
Rate per hourApplies to
$14.42Applicable to employers of two or more employees

Premium pay after designated hours: Weekly - 40. DOL footnote 1: The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate, unless otherwise specified.

Scheduled increases

DOL lists no dated increase for Vermont but states that the rate is adjusted annually by a formula set in state law. The next figure is published by the state, usually before January 1 or July 1; this page shows the rate DOL carried on July 1, 2026.

Tipped employees

Vermont requires a cash wage above the federal tipped minimum of $2.13; the employer may count tips toward the rest, up to the tip credit shown.

Tipped employee minimum wage in Vermont
RowCombined cash and tip minimumMaximum tip creditMinimum cash wageTipped employee defined by monthly tips of
Vermont$14.4250% of the applicable minimum wage ($7.21)$7.21More than $120

A dash means DOL left the cell blank. DOL's general footnote 1: Other additional deductions are permitted, for example for meals and lodging.

What DOL also notes

  • The Vermont minimum wage is adjusted annually based on a set formula. The State minimum wage is automatically replaced with the federal minimum wage rate if it is higher than the State minimum.

Neighbors and the federal floor

Minimum wage in the states bordering Vermont
StateState rateFloor for FLSA-covered employers
Vermont$14.42$14.42
New York$17.00$17.00
Massachusetts$15.00$15.00
New Hampshire$7.25$7.25
Federal (FLSA)$7.25$7.25

More than one law can apply

DOL states that where federal, state and local minimum wage laws all cover an employer, the employer must pay the highest applicable rate. Whether a particular job is covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act, by Vermont's law, or by a city or county ordinance depends on facts this site does not assess. City and county rates are not in DOL's table and are not shown here. This page describes published rates and is not legal advice; for how to raise an underpayment, see FastGuide.

Take-home pay and benefits calculators for Vermont

FastCalc, a sister site, has these calculators for Vermont. Each takes your own figures; this site computes nothing.

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