Vermonters’ wages lag behind the national average

Vermont’s average wage in 2025 was $67,164 annually, well below the U.S. average of $78,722. Most states’ averages fell below the national because a handful of higher-wage states drove up that number.

All of Vermont counties’ average wages also came in below the national average. But two, those of Chittenden and Washington, were above the state’s average. Grand Isle and Essex had the lowest wages, below $52,000, with Grand Isle ranking among Vermont counties showing the fastest growth over the last decade and Essex among the slowest. Across the U.S., counties’ average annual wages varied from less than $34,000 in parts of Nebraska and Missouri to over $200,000 in California.

Note: The average wage is the total wages earned divided by the total number of workers. Wage rates, the share of part-time workers, job composition, and reporting practices can all affect these numbers.