How Much Do Firefighters Make in Vermont? 2026 Salary Data

Nationally, firefighters make $63,630 a year on average. See how much firefighters make in every state, ranked.

If you're considering a career in firefighting in Vermont, one of the first questions you probably have is about pay. How much do firefighters actually make in Vermont? Is it enough to support a family? And how does it compare to what firefighters earn in other states?

Right now, there are 4 Vermont firefighter openings with a listed yearly salary on FireJobs (updated Oct 7, 2026); the newest, from Burlington Fire Department, starts at $67,556. For the full picture, we pair that with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey (May 2025, published 2026), the official average pay for every firefighter in Vermont. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in Vermont is $49,570 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is below the national average of $63,630. Vermont ranks #39 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $29,790, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $77,200 annually.

What Departments Are Posting Now (FireJobs, as of October 2026)

There are 4 current firefighter postings in Vermont with a listed yearly salary, ranging from $54,358 to $67,556. We only publish a median with 8 or more postings, because a median of a handful of listings can swing a lot from week to week.

Department	Position	Posted pay (yearly)	Listed
Burlington Fire Department	Entry Level Firefighter/EMT	$67,556 to $74,311	Sep 1
St Johnsbury Fire Department	Career Firefighter/EMT	$54,358 to $59,435	Sep 1
Brattleboro Fire Department	Dual Role Firefighter/EMT/AEMT/Paramedic - FY27	$56,761 to $102,864	May 26
Williston Fire Department	Career Firefighter/EMT	$65,570 to $80,000	May 26

See all current firefighter openings in Vermont on FireJobs

These are advertised starting salaries in current full time, entry level firefighter job postings, not averages of what firefighters earn. Posted pay often excludes overtime and incentives, and the BLS figures below include experienced firefighters, so the two numbers measure different things.

Live postings: FireJobs, updated Oct 7, 2026

How Much Do Firefighters Make in Vermont?

Here are the key numbers for firefighters in Vermont, straight from the BLS:

Metric	Vermont	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$49,570	$63,630
Median annual salary	$46,430	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$29,790	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$77,200	$101,040

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of Vermont firefighters earn more than $46,430 and half earn less. The average gets pulled around by a small number of very high earners in the biggest departments.

Firefighter Salary Breakdown in Vermont

Entry level: Around $29,790. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $46,430. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $77,200 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

Burlington, South Burlington, Rutland, and Montpelier run the only career departments of any size. The rest of Vermont is volunteer, and career jobs are few and competitive.

Vermont vs. National Average

At $49,570, the average Vermont firefighter earns about $14,060 (22%) less than the national average of $63,630. That puts Vermont at #39 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

Vermont's cost of living is above average, and housing in the Burlington area is tight. Pay is modest relative to the rest of New England.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in Vermont

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Burlington, South Burlington, Rutland, Montpelier, Essex.
Union representation. Vermont's career firefighters are unionized and the state permits collective bargaining for municipal employees.
Certifications. Paramedic certification is the single biggest pay bump for most firefighters, often adding $5,000 to $15,000 a year. Hazmat, technical rescue, and driver/operator certifications add more.
Overtime. Most departments run 24 hour shifts, and overtime, holiday pay, and call back pay can add 10% to 30% on top of base salary.
Rank. Promotion to engineer, lieutenant, captain, and chief officer each brings a meaningful raise. Chief officers in Vermont's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in Vermont

The basic path is the same everywhere: meet the age and education requirements, pass a written test and the CPAT physical ability test, clear a background check and medical exam, and complete a fire academy. Many Vermont departments strongly prefer or require EMT certification, and paramedic certification makes you a much stronger candidate.

We have a full step by step guide: How to Become a Firefighter in Vermont.

Is Being a Firefighter in Vermont Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in Vermont typically get a defined benefit pension, employer paid health insurance, and a schedule that leaves plenty of days off for family or a second job. Against that you have to weigh the physical toll, the exposure to trauma, and the long term health risks that come with the job. For most people who want this career, the answer is still yes. Just go in with realistic numbers.

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