2016 Vermont Minimum Wage
The 2016 Vermont Minimum Wage is $9.60.
Effective 2016-01-01Source: Vermont Farm Worker Wage, Hour and Housing Fact Sheet (Vermont Department of Labor)Verified 2026-08-31
Who it applies to
Employers and employees in Vermont subject to the state minimum wage.
What changed this year, and why
Vermont's minimum wage increased to $9.60 per hour, effective January 1, 2016.
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage in Vermont for 2016?
- The minimum wage in Vermont in 2016 is $9.60 per hour, effective January 1, 2016.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
In Vermont, agricultural employees are exempt from the state minimum wage and overtime laws under 21 V.S.A. § 383. However, this exemption does not apply to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Agricultural employees may still be entitled to the federal minimum wage if they work for a farm that used 500 or more man-days of agricultural labor during any calendar quarter in the previous calendar year. A man-day is defined as any day an employee performs at least one hour of work. The federal minimum wage acts as a floor or safety net, ensuring that employees receive at least the federal rate even when state law exempts certain types of employees from the state minimum wage. In Vermont, the 2016 minimum wage was 9.60 per hour, but agricultural workers who qualify for the federal coverage would receive the federal minimum wage instead.
Individuals employed in agriculture are exempt from Vermont’s minimum wage & overtime laws pursuant to 21 V.S.A. § 383. Agricultural employees may be covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act & entitled to the Federal minimum wage if they are employed by a farm that used 500 or more “man days” of agricultural labor during any calendar quarter in the previous calendar year. A “man day” means any employee performing at least one hour of work during a day.
Vermont Farm Worker Wage, Hour and Housing Fact Sheet (Vermont Department of Labor)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
Workers in Vermont with questions about minimum wage, overtime, or wage payment issues should contact the Vermont Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. The Wage and Hour phone number is listed in the Vermont Department of Labor contact directory. The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division also operates a toll-free help line. Workers with questions about workers' compensation can contact the appropriate state office. For questions about whether agricultural employees are exempt from state minimum wage and overtime laws, or whether they may be entitled to federal coverage, workers should contact the Vermont Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division or consult with a labor or employment attorney.
Wage and Hour 802-828-0267
Vermont Farm Worker Wage, Hour and Housing Fact Sheet (Vermont Department of Labor)
State minimum wage laws that give more than the federal rate
When both federal and state minimum wage laws apply, employees in Vermont are entitled to the higher rate. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act sets a minimum wage floor of 7.25 per hour. Vermont's minimum wage for 2016 was 9.60 per hour, which is higher than the federal rate. In cases where state law exempts certain types of employees from the state minimum wage, the federal law acts as a safety net ensuring that employees receive at least the federal minimum wage. However, when the state rate is higher than the federal rate, as it was in Vermont in 2016, covered employees must be paid at least the state rate of 9.60 per hour. Agricultural employees who are exempt from Vermont's minimum wage but covered by federal law would receive the federal minimum wage of 7.25 per hour.
The Federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 as of 01/01/2015. In cases where State law exempts certain types of employees from the State minimum wage, FLSA will act as a “floor” or “safety net” ensuring that employees receive at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25.
Vermont Farm Worker Wage, Hour and Housing Fact Sheet (Vermont Department of Labor)
What an employer may deduct from your pay
In Vermont, employers may make certain deductions from employee wages, but there are important limitations. Employers may not withhold wages as a security deposit or as a means to ensure that workers give notice before leaving employment. Employers may not deduct from wages or require employees to pay for personal protective equipment required by occupational safety and health regulations, with limited exceptions allowed by federal regulations. Employers must provide required protective equipment at no cost to employees. The 2016 Vermont minimum wage was 9.60 per hour, and deductions cannot reduce a covered employee's pay below this rate.
An employer may not withhold wages as a security deposit or as a means to ensure that workers give two weeks’ notice.
Vermont Farm Worker Wage, Hour and Housing Fact Sheet (Vermont Department of Labor)
Why the federal rate applies when the state rate is lower
When the state minimum wage rate is lower than the federal minimum wage rate, the federal rate applies to covered employees. In 2016, Vermont's minimum wage was 9.60 per hour, which was higher than the federal minimum wage of 7.25 per hour. Because Vermont's rate exceeded the federal floor, covered workers in Vermont were entitled to be paid at least the state amount of 9.60 per hour. The federal minimum wage serves as a safety net ensuring that even if a state sets a lower rate, employees still receive at least the federal minimum. Workers in Vermont benefited from the higher state rate that year.
The Federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 as of 01/01/2015. In cases where State law exempts certain types of employees from the State minimum wage, FLSA will act as a “floor” or “safety net” ensuring that employees receive at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25.
Vermont Farm Worker Wage, Hour and Housing Fact Sheet (Vermont Department of Labor)
How each figure was verified
Each number below was read from a stored copy of the document named beside it, and checked to occur word for word in the quoted sentence. The digest is of that stored text.
Vermont Farm Worker Wage, Hour and Housing Fact Sheet (Vermont Department of Labor)
- Hourly
Effective January 01, 2016: $9.60 per hour
Other years
Every Vermont Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state