The Vermont state minimum wage increased by 63 cents in January 2023, from $12.55 in 2023 to $13.18 per hour in 2023. This represents a 5% increase from 2022 to 2023.
When you are doing business in the United States, whether that be as a business or franchise owner, or if you are an employee working in Vermont, it is essential to understand and know the law and, subsequently, your rights when it comes to the minimum wage. Whether that’s paying employees or being paid yourself. Let’s look at the minimum wage in Vermont.
If you are a full-time worker on minimum wage in Vermont, your earnings could be as follows:
- Daily Minimum Wage: $105.44 (based on an 8-hour working day).
- Weekly Minimum Wage: $527.20 (based on a 40-hour week).
- Yearly Minimum Wage: $27,414.40 (based on being paid 52 weeks per year).
Every state has a specific minimum wage, most are measured via the consumer price index. However, there are still many states that use the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour as a reference to what workers should be paid in their state as a basic minimum wage.
This is not the case with the minimum wage in Vermont!
The graphic below highlights the Vermont state minimum wage over the past several years. The minimum wage did go up in 2023 from $12.55 per hour (in 2022) to $13.18 in 2022.
Most employers will have to abide by the minimum wage set for their state for all employees if they plan to pay minimum wage. The minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily, or monthly wage businesses may legally pay employees or workers.
The Vermont Department of Labor is responsible for upholding the minimum wage in Vermont each year, currently sitting at $13.18 per hour. Should you have any questions, or concerns, or need clarity on the Vermont state minimum wage in 2023 as an employer or employee, feel free to visit their website and make an inquiry.
The Vermont Wage & Hour Program oversees state law and adopted rules concerning minimum wage, overtime, wage payments, employee benefits, child labor, and workplace rights for employees and employers. The Vermont Wage & Hour also provides information on wage and employment-related issues and attempts to settle employer/employee wage disputes to the satisfaction of all parties.
There are some industries in Vermont that, under the FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act), are exempt from the minimum wage in Vermont. The FLSA is a federal law establishing wage and hour standards for the majority of private and public employers, according to the FLSA for Vermont, certain industries are exempt from paying employees the Vermont state minimum wage in 2023.
You can view and download the official Vermont minimum wage labor law poster for 2022-2023 here at no charge. Employers must display a poster outlining the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), ensuring that accurate employee time and pay records are kept.
Vermont Minimum Wage History
The table below provides the current rate and history of Vermont’s minimum wage over the past 40+ years since 1983. You can see when there were increases in the minimum wage, how much they were, and what percentage increase it represents each year.
| State | Wage | $ Wage Increase | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2023 | $13.18 | $0.63 | 5% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2022 | $12.55 | $0.80 | 6.8% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2021 | $11.75 | $0.79 | 7.2% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2020 | $10.96 | $0.21 | 1.95% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2019 | $10.78 | $0.25 | 2.3% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2018 | $10.50 | $0.50 | 5% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2017 | $10.00 | $0.40 | 4.2% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2016 | $9.60 | $0.45 | 4.9% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2015 | $9.15 | $0.42 | 4.8% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2014 | $8.73 | $0.13 | 1.5% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2013 | $8.60 | $0.14 | 1.6% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2012 | $8.46 | $0.31 | 3.8% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2011 | $8.15 | $0.09 | 1.1% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2010 | $8.06 | $0 | 0% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2009 | $8.06 | $0.48 | 6.25% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2008 | $7.68 | $0 | 0% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2007 | $7.55 | $0.30 | 4.13% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2006 | $7.25 | $0.25 | 3.57% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2005 | $7.00 | $0.25 | 3.7% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2004 | $6.75 | $0.50 | 8% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2003 | $6.25 | $0 | 0% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2002 | $6.25 | $0 | 0% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2001 | $6.25 | $0.50 | 8.69% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 2000 | $5.75 | $0 | 0% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 1999 | $5.75 | $0.50 | 9.52% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 1998 | $5.25 | $0 | 0% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 1997 | $5.25 | $0.50 | 10.52% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 1996 | $4.75 | $0.25 | 5.55% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 1995 | $4.50 | $0.25 | 5.88% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 1994 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 1993 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 1992 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 1991 | $4.25 | $0.40 | 10.38% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 1990 | $3.85 | $0.10 | 2.66% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 1989 | $3.75 | $0.10 | 2.73% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 1988 | $3.65 | $0.10 | 2.81% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 1987 | $3.55 | $0.10 | 2.89% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 1986 | $3.45 | $0.10 | 2.98% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 1985 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 1984 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| Vermont Minimum Wage 1983 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
Vermont Minimum Wage Exemptions
In addition to the regular minimum wage rate, there are a few Vermont state minimum wage exemptions that typically depend on your age or employment situation. Below are the various minimum wage exemptions with some situational examples.
Below is a graphic displaying the Vermont minimum wage exemptions:
Vermont Student Minimum Wage
The minimum wage for student employees in Vermont is 85% of the state minimum wage, making their hourly pay $11.20 per hour in 2023.
This hourly rate is for any hours worked up to 20 hours per week. As a student employee, once you surpass 20 hours per week, you will be eligible to be paid the Vermont minimum wage rate of $13.18 per hour.
Being a student can be financially challenging, leading many students to pick up part-time jobs to make extra money while studying. Despite a student minimum wage rate, many Vermont employers will not necessarily follow it and pay you equal to or more than the statewide minimum wage.
Many work-study programs are available at universities, which is a route many students go down. Still, coffee shop, cafe, bar, and restaurant jobs are commonly taken by students as they can work them into their class schedule.
Vermont Under 20 Minimum Wage
If you are under 20 years old in Vermont, federal law allows your employer to pay you as little as $4.25 per hour for your first 90 days of employment.
Once the 90-day period is over, you will be eligible to be paid the 2023 Vermont minimum wage of $13.18 per hour or potentially even more.
Fortunately for young workers, this is 90 calendar days and not 90 working days; therefore, it can be completed relatively quickly and within about three months.
Vermont Tipped Minimum Wage
If you are a tipped employee in Vermont (someone who receives regular tips as a part of their job) then you are eligible to be paid a minimum wage of $6.59 per hour, with a tip credit of $6.59 per hour, ensuring that you reach the statewide minimum wage regardless if you make enough hourly tips.
Vermont Overtime Minimum Wage
Once you work over 40 hours a week, you are eligible to be paid an overtime rate of 1.5 times your hourly wage for every hour you work past 40. So, the overtime minimum wage in Vermont is $19.77 per hour, 1.5 times the minimum wage of $13.18 per hour.
