Firefighters Salary
Firefighters in Vermont make a median of $46,430 a year, or about $22.32 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.95), that's roughly $45,993 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,498/month, about 46.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Vermont. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $46K actually covers in Vermont, month by month
About firefighters
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What this looks like in Vermont
Pay for firefighters in Vermont runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,498/month, which is 47% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.95) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for firefighters.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Vermont
Entry-level firefighters (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Firefighters salary by metro in Vermont
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington-South Burlington | $55K | +18% | N/A |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Vermont numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a firefighter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Vermont?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 47% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,498/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for firefighters in Vermont?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new firefighters typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,122/month. At HUD’s $1,498/month FMR, rent would take 71% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is firefighter a high-paying job in Vermont?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $46K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does Vermont compare to the national average for firefighters?
Vermont pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.95), the purchasing-power equivalent is $46K — below the national median.
How much do firefighters make in Vermont?
The median is $46,430 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,790, and experienced firefighters can clear $77,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Vermont?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,190/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,498/month, which eats 47% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a firefighters salary go in Vermont?
Vermont has a Regional Price Parity of 100.95 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median firefighters salary is worth about $45,993 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do firefighters get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.