How much does a Police Officer make in Vermont?

The average Police Officer salary in Vermont is around $72,000 per year. After federal taxes, FICA, and Vermont state taxes, your estimated take-home pay is approximately $56,840 annually ($4,737/month).

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

On a $72,000 salary in Vermont, your take-home pay is approximately $56,840/year or $4,737/month. Federal tax: $7,010. State tax: $2,642. FICA: $0.00.

Is $72,000 a good Police Officer salary?

$72,000 is a competitive salary for a Police Officer — near the national median. In Vermont, demand for this role is active.

How do Vermont taxes affect Police Officer salaries?

Vermont levies state income tax on top of federal taxes. Your estimated state tax on $72,000 is $2,642. Your total effective tax rate is approximately 21.1%.

What are the career growth prospects for Police Officers?

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)

The average Police Officer in Vermont earns around $72,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $56,840/year ($4,737/month).

Take-Home Pay Breakdown

Category	Amount
Annual Take-Home Pay	$56,840
Monthly Take-Home Pay	$4,737
Biweekly Take-Home Pay	$2,186
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year	$27/hr
Federal Tax	$7,010
State Tax	$2,642
FICA Taxes	$5,508
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary	21.06%

Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

Want to model 401(k), HSA, or pre-tax contributions against your full salary? Open the salary calculator →

Working overtime? The 2025 OBBBA deduction may save you up to $12,500 on federal tax. Open the No Tax on Overtime calculator →

1099 contract work or side gigs? Self-employment tax adds 15.3% on top. Open the 1099 tax calculator →

Got a year-end bonus, sign-on, or retention payout? See the bonus calculator →

Key terms:···

Police Officer Salary Ranges in Vermont

Entry Level (0–3 yrs)

$55,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Mid Level (3–7 yrs)

$80,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Senior Level (7+ yrs)

$130,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

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.

Senior Officer / Sergeant (Burlington PD)

$72,000–$108,000+ OT

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

Senior Trooper (Vermont State Police)

$72,000–$108,000+ OT

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

Senior Detective / Investigator

$75,000–$112,000+ OT

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

Senior K-9 / Tactical Officer

$78,000–$115,000+ OT

K-9 handler + VSP Tactical Services + BPD tactical · VT tactical specialty + hazard premium

Senior Federal Agent (FBI Boston / DEA Burlington)

$115,000–$185,000+

Senior federal agent · FBI Boston covering VT + DEA Burlington + ATF + USMS + USBP · LEAP availability pay

Senior USBP Officer (Swanton Sector)

$78,000–$135,000+ OT

US Border Patrol Swanton Sector · VT-NY-NH Canadian border + the substantial Swanton Sector federal LE

Senior Sheriff Deputy (Chittenden / Rutland)

$58,000–$85,000+ OT

Senior deputy at VT sheriff offices · patrol + corrections + court services + civil process

Senior Officer (Stowe / Killington Ski Resort)

$62,000–$88,000+ OT

Senior officer at Stowe + Killington ski resort areas · seasonal ski resort coordination + UHNW

Mid-Career Officer (3-7 yrs)

$52,000–$72,000+ OT

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

New Officer (Post-Academy)

$48,000–$62,000+ OT

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

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.