How much does a Police Officer make in Vermont?

BLS puts the average Police Officer pay in Vermont at $70,560 a year (BLS, May 2025). On that pay in Vermont, after federal taxes, FICA, and Vermont state taxes, your estimated take-home pay is approximately $56,336 annually ($4,695/month).

What is the take-home pay for a Police Officer in Vermont?

On a $70,560 salary in Vermont, your take-home pay is approximately $56,336/year or $4,695/month. Federal tax: $6,693. State tax: $2,133. FICA: $5,398.

Is $70,560 a good Police Officer salary?

$70,560 is the BLS average Police Officer pay in Vermont, 11% below the US average of $79,200 (BLS, May 2025). The middle 50% in Vermont earn between $59,680 and $79,080.

How do Vermont taxes affect Police Officer salaries?

Vermont levies state income tax on top of federal taxes. Your estimated state tax on $70,560 is $2,133. Your total effective tax rate is approximately 20.2%.

What are the career growth prospects for Police Officers?

In Vermont, the top 10% earn over $95,530 and the bottom 10% under $53,950 (BLS, May 2025). 3% growth through 2032 (about as fast as average). Related roles include: Detective, Sergeant, State Trooper, Sheriff Deputy, Federal Agent.

How can a Police Officer in Vermont reduce their tax bill?

Maximize your 401(k) contribution ($24,500 in 2026) to reduce taxable income. An HSA ($4,400 single / $8,750 family) adds further pre-tax savings. These strategies can save thousands annually — use our calculator to see your exact savings.

Public Safety

Police Officer Salary in Vermont (2026)

Average Police Officer pay in Vermont

$70,560/year

≈ $34/hour before tax

Middle 50% earn $59,680–$79,080

US average: $79,200

Source: BLS, May 2025

After tax (single filer)

$56,336/year

$4,695/month · effective tax rate 20.16%

Federal $6,693
State $2,133
FICA $5,398
Take-home

Pay by role in Vermont

Sergeant / Lieutenant / Captain (Burlington metro)BLS · Burlington-South Burlington, VT · middle 50%$98,920–$124,320
Senior Patrol / Specialty OfficerBLS · 75th–90th percentile$79,080–$95,530
Detective / InvestigatorBLS · middle 50%$84,430–$111,530
Patrol Officer / Trooper / DeputyBLS · middle 50%$59,680–$79,080
Recruit / Probationary OfficerBLS · 10th–25th percentile$53,950–$59,680

See the full tax breakdown

Category	Amount
Annual Take-Home Pay	$56,336
Monthly Take-Home Pay	$4,695
Biweekly Take-Home Pay	$2,167
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year	$27/hr
Federal Tax	$6,693
State Tax	$2,133
FICA Taxes	$5,398
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary	20.16%

Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

Not all Police Officers earn the same — not even close

Vermont's police officer market is anchored by Vermont State Police VSP (~330 sworn troopers within VT Department of Public Safety + the substantial VT statewide police agency + VSP Major Crime + VSP Tactical Services + VSP K-9 + the substantial VSP I-89 + I-91 + US-7 interstate + state highway patrol + the substantial VSP covering vast VT rural territory + the substantial VSP barracks-based deployment), Burlington Police Department (~95 sworn officers + the largest VT municipal police + the substantial Burlington post-2020 LEACT-style reform + BPD post-2020 mental health crisis response + the substantial Burlington UVM market + the substantial Burlington post-2020 recruitment + retention challenges), South Burlington Police Department (~50 sworn + the substantial South Burlington), Rutland City Police Department (~55 sworn + the substantial Rutland Regional + Killington ski resort coordination), Essex Police Department (~30 sworn + GlobalFoundries + IBM legacy), Colchester PD + Brattleboro PD + St Albans PD + Montpelier PD + Barre PD + Bennington PD + Middlebury PD + the substantial VT smaller municipal departments + Chittenden County Sheriff Burlington + Rutland County Sheriff + Washington County Sheriff Montpelier + the substantial VT rural sheriff offices, plus substantial federal law enforcement at FBI Boston (covering VT) + DEA Burlington + ATF + USMS + USBP US Border Patrol Swanton Sector + the substantial Norwich University ROTC + the substantial VT National Guard.

Sergeant / Lieutenant / Captain (Burlington metro)

$98,920–$124,320

Senior officer + sergeant at BPD · VSERS + VT NOT RTW + Burlington Police Officers Association · OT + detail

Source: BLS May 2025 · First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives · Burlington-South Burlington, VT · middle 50%

Senior Patrol / Specialty Officer

$79,080–$95,530

Senior trooper at VSP · Major Crime + Tactical Services + K-9 + I-89 + I-91 + US-7 + barracks-based

Source: BLS May 2025 · Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers · Vermont · 75th–90th percentile

Detective / Investigator

$84,430–$111,530

Senior detective at BPD + VSP + Rutland PD + Chittenden SO · investigations + casework + VSERS

Source: BLS May 2025 · Detectives and Criminal Investigators · Vermont · middle 50%

Patrol Officer / Trooper / Deputy

$59,680–$79,080

Mid-career officer · VSERS membership · Vermont Criminal Justice Council VCJC certified

Source: BLS May 2025 · Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers · Vermont · middle 50%

Recruit / Probationary Officer

$53,950–$59,680

New officer · post-academy + field training · VCJC certified · VSERS at hire

Source: BLS May 2025 · Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers · Vermont · 10th–25th percentile

Worth knowing: Vermont State Employees Retirement System VSERS + Vermont Municipal Employees Retirement System VMERS + VT NOT a Right-to-Work state + USBP Swanton Sector federal jurisdiction is the structural foundation of VT career police compensation and a distinctive VT police officer feature most national surveys understate. VSERS + VMERS (the VT statewide public pension covering ~50K active + retired members + the substantial VSERS Group F for VSP + correctional officers + the substantial VMERS Groups A + B + C + D for municipal employees + the substantial VSERS defined-benefit + the substantial VSERS post-2008 + post-2020 reform Tier B + Tier C for new hires + the substantial VSERS funded ratio above 70%) provides protective service pension at VT public-safety formula appreciably more generous than VSERS Group A — supporting career police retirement after 25-30 years. VT recognizes public-sector collective bargaining (VT Labor Relations Act + Vermont State Police Patrol Officers Association VTSPPOA + Burlington Police Officers Association + AFSCME Council 93 VT + Vermont State Employees Association VSEA + the substantial VT public-safety collective bargaining). VT is NOT a Right-to-Work state — meaning public-sector employees can have full collective bargaining rights including union security clauses. USBP US Border Patrol Swanton Sector (the substantial Swanton Sector federal LE covering ~295 miles of VT-NY-NH Canadian border + the substantial USBP officer cluster + the substantial post-2020 USBP migration recruitment + the substantial Swanton Sector post-2024 northern border surge + the substantial federal officer GS pay grades) supports unique VT BIA-style federal officer specialty — senior USBP Swanton officers clear $78-135K + OT with GS-9 + GS-11 federal LEAP pay + AUO Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime. Stowe + Killington + Sugarbush + Stratton ski resort coordination (the substantial VT ski resort seasonal calls-for-service + the substantial Stowe + Killington UHNW market + the substantial Stowe Mountain Vail-owned + post-2020 UHNW migration) drives substantial VT seasonal police specialty work. Post-2020 Burlington + Rutland recruitment + retention challenges drove substantial signing bonus + retention bonus + lateral transfer incentives — BPD post-2022 offered $15K-$20K lateral signing bonuses to certified officers + the substantial post-2020 Burlington mental health crisis response + the substantial Burlington post-2020 BPD homeless response. Post-2020 LEACT-style VT reform drove substantial mental health + crisis response reform + the substantial VT post-2020 co-responder model. The 2025 No Tax on Overtime federal deduction applies through 2028 — VT OBBBA OT applies to officer overtime + detail . VT progressive 3.35% / 6.6% / 7.6% / 8.75% + VT 6% sales tax + VT estate tax $5M + VT NOT a RTW state + VSERS + VMERS + VTSPPOA + AFSCME + VSEA collective bargaining + USBP Swanton Sector federal jurisdiction anchor the VT police officer proposition.

Sources & Methodology

Salary figures are market estimates for Police Officers in Vermont and vary by employer, specialty, seniority, and metro. Take-home math assumes a single filer with no dependents, the standard deduction, and Vermont 2026 state rates. Local taxes, insurance premiums, and pre-tax contributions will move your number — run the calculator for your own situation.

Run your own numbers