2019 Vermont Minimum Wage
The 2019 Vermont Minimum Wage is $10.78.
Effective 2019-01-01Source: Wage and Hour (Vermont Department of Labor)Verified 2026-08-30
Compared with 2018
| Item | 2018 | 2019 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $10.50 | $10.78 | +$0.28 (+2.7%) |
Who it applies to
Employees working in Vermont subject to the state minimum wage
What changed this year, and why
Vermont's minimum wage was set at $10.78 per hour, effective January 1, 2019.
Overtime is paid at one and one-half times the regular rate
The Wage & Hour Program oversees state rules covering overtime in Vermont. Under those rules, employees who work more than the standard weekly hours must be paid an overtime premium calculated as one and one-half times their regular hourly rate. For a Vermont worker earning the 2019 minimum wage of $10.78 per hour, each overtime hour would therefore be paid at a higher figure than the straight-time rate. The premium applies to the hours actually worked beyond the threshold, not to all hours in the week. Vermont employees who believe their employer has failed to pay the correct overtime amount should contact the Wage and Hour Program to report the issue.
The Wage & Hour Program oversees state law and adopted rules concerning minimum wage, overtime, wage payments, employee benefits, child labor, and workplace rights for employees and employers.
Wage and Hour (Vermont Department of Labor)
State minimum wage laws that give more than the federal rate
Vermont and the federal government each maintain their own minimum wage rules, and the two sets of laws do not always match. The page notes that federal wage and hour laws differ from Vermont law. When the Vermont rate is higher than the federal rate, as it was in 2019 at $10.78 per hour, workers in Vermont are entitled to the higher state figure. When the federal rate is higher, the federal floor applies instead. Employers in Vermont must comply with whichever standard gives the employee the greater protection. The page also directs readers to the U.S. Department of Labor at (603) 666-7716 for questions about rights and obligations under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Remember, federal wage and hour laws differ from Vermont law, so you should also contact the U.S. Department of Labor (603) 666-7716 regarding your rights and obligations under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Wage and Hour (Vermont Department of Labor)
Why the federal rate applies when the state rate is lower
When the Vermont minimum wage is lower than the federal minimum wage, the federal rate applies to covered employees in the state. The page notes that federal wage and hour laws differ from Vermont law. In such a situation, workers in Vermont are entitled to the higher of the two figures, so the state rate cannot be used to pay less than the federal floor. Employers in Vermont must track both rates and apply whichever is greater to each employee’s paycheck. The page directs readers to the U.S. Department of Labor at (603) 666-7716 for guidance on obligations under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Remember, federal wage and hour laws differ from Vermont law, so you should also contact the U.S. Department of Labor (603) 666-7716 regarding your rights and obligations under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Wage and Hour (Vermont Department of Labor)
How the rate is adjusted each year, and who announces it
Vermont adjusts its minimum wage once each year so that the rate keeps pace with changes in the cost of living. The page states that Vermont’s minimum wage is adjusted annually to be effective on January 1. The new figure is calculated using a cost-of-living adjustment tied to a consumer price index, so each year’s rate reflects how much prices have risen over the prior period. The 2019 rate of $10.78 per hour was itself the product of such an annual adjustment. Workers and employers in Vermont can expect the published minimum wage to change every January 1, and they should check the updated figure before the start of each year to confirm they are paying or being paid the correct hourly amount.
**Vermont’s minimum wage is adjusted annually to be effective on January 1
Wage and Hour (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.
Wage and Hour (Vermont Department of Labor)
- Hourly
Effective 01/01/2019: $10.78 per hour worked
Other years
Every Vermont Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state