What’s the minimum wage for servers in Vermont?
The short answer
Vermont at a glance
| Minimum wage | $14.42 | Federal: $7.25 |
|---|---|---|
| Tipped cash wage (paid before tips) | $7.21 | Federal: $2.13 |
| Can tips count toward minimum wage? | Yes | DOL: Yes |
| Who counts as tipped | More than $120 in tips a month | |
As of the U.S. Department of Labor table revised July 1, 2026. Your city may set a higher rate.
What’s different in Vermont
Two things set Vermont apart from federal rules. First, the tipped cash wage is half the state minimum, not a fixed $2.13, so it rises whenever the minimum rises. Vermont adjusts its minimum every year by a set formula.
Second, the bar to be treated as a tipped employee is high. The DOL table says more than $120 a month in tips. If your tips stay below that level, check with the state labor office before assuming the $7.21 rate applies to you.
The state law covers employers of two or more employees, per the DOL. Vermont’s May 2025 BLS median for waiters and waitresses was $28.43 an hour, far above the minimum. That figure is estimated by employers, includes reported tips, and rests on a small workforce of 4,040, so treat it with caution.
Example shift
Say you work 6 hours and walk out with $120 in tips (illustrative numbers; use your own).
- Wages: $7.21 Ă— 6 = $43.26.
- With tips: $43.26 + $120 = $163.26, or $27.21 an hour.
- If your tips for the week don’t bring you to $14.42 an hour, federal law says your employer has to make up the difference.
What servers earn: BLS estimates the median hourly wage for waiters and waitresses in Vermont was $28.43 in May 2025. BLS counts tips in this figure, but the numbers come from employers’ estimates, so they may not reflect all the tips servers receive.
Check your own week: Am I being paid at least minimum wage?
Official sources
Last verified
. Checked the U.S. Department of Labor state tables (revised July 1, 2026) and BLS OEWS May 2025.