$18 an Hour in Vermont — After-Tax Take-Home (2026)
At $18/hour (2,080 hours/year), your gross annual income is $37,440. After federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and Vermont state income tax, your take-home pay is $15.01/hr. In Vermont's high cost-of-living environment, this is below what's needed for comfortable living in Vermont.
Pay Period Breakdown
Full Tax Breakdown — Vermont, Single Filer
How Does Vermont Compare?
See how $18/hr take-home differs in other states at the same wage:
Equivalent Annual Salary Pages
$18/hr = $37,440/year gross. See the full state-by-state salary breakdown:
Adjacent Rates in Vermont
Same Rate, Other States
Cost of Living in Vermont
- Avg 1BR rent in Burlington: $1,400/mo — over the 30% rule (45% of gross monthly)
- Minimum comfortable income in Vermont: $48,000/yr
- Your net annual: $31,227 ($16,773 below comfortable threshold)
- Purchasing power equivalent in Texas: ~$15.8/hr
Working at $18/hr in Vermont
This is a workable income in Vermont, though Burlington's competitive rental market is a pressure point. The 6.6% bracket starting around $41k is a notable feature. Vermont's outdoor recreation, low crime, and quality public services add non-monetary value.
At ${rate}/hr, you work roughly 94 hours each month to cover a typical 1BR in Burlington (${rent.toLocaleString()}/mo) -- that's above the 30% gross income guideline. This wage is 1.3x Vermont's minimum wage of ${ctx.minWage}/hr. Your combined effective tax rate at ${rate}/hr in Vermont is 16.6% -- federal income tax accounts for 6.2%, FICA 7.7%, and Vermont state tax 2.8%.
Vermont has a small, high-quality economy centered on healthcare, education, tourism (skiing, fall foliage), technology, and specialty food/agriculture (Ben & Jerry's). The labor market is very tight due to the small, aging population. Remote work has increased Vermont's attractiveness.
Vermont has a progressive income tax with rates from 3.35% to 8.75%. The top rate applies at $204k+, but the 6.6% bracket starts around $41k for single filers — creating a meaningful mid-income burden.
Vermont's minimum wage is $14.01/hr (2026), indexed to inflation.
Monthly Budget on $18/hr in Vermont
Based on $2,602/month take-home. Percentages follow common 50/30/20 guidelines adjusted for Vermont's cost of living.
⚠ This budget is underwater — rent alone exceeds the 30% guideline in Vermont at $18/hr. Consider roommates, lower-cost areas, or targeting a higher wage to reach balance.
Overtime Pay — $18/hr in Vermont
At time-and-a-half ($27.00/hr), here's what overtime adds to your annual net income in Vermont. Your marginal tax rate at this income level is ~16.8%.
Hours to Afford Common Purchases at $18/hr
How many hours of work (gross) to buy common items. Actual cost in after-tax hours is higher — divide by your $15.01 net hourly rate for the true cost in time.
Frequently Asked Questions
18 an hour -- is it a good wage in Vermont?
18/hr in Vermont gives you $31,227/year after taxes -- below what's needed for comfortable living in Vermont. Avg 1BR rent in Burlington: $1,400/month (exceeds the 30% rule).
What is 18 an hour after taxes in Vermont?
18/hr in Vermont = $31,227/year or $2,602/month net. Effective rate: 16.6%.
How does 18/hr go further -- Vermont or Texas?
18/hr in Vermont has similar purchasing power to ~15.8/hr in Texas.
What does 18/hr look like as a monthly budget in Vermont?
On $2,602/month in Vermont: rent $1,400, food $312, transport $260, savings $260, surplus ~$0.
How much does overtime add at 18/hr in Vermont?
At 1.5x (27.00/hr OT), 5 extra hrs/week adds ~$5,600/year net; 10 hrs/week adds ~$11,250/year.