Janitorial Wages in Vermont (2026)

Vermont's janitorial workforce earns a statewide mean and median hourly wage of $18.57 (BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 37-2011) — the highest in this batch of nine states and well above the national median of approximately $17.27/hr. Vermont's progressive wage environment, combined with its CPI-indexed minimum wage of $14.42/hr (effective January 1, 2026, up from $14.01/hr in 2025), creates one of the more employer-challenging labor cost structures in New England for cleaning services.

What employers should plan for

• Floor: $14.42/hr effective January 1, 2026 (21 V.S.A. §384; CPI-indexed annually, adjusted each January 1). The 2026 rate increased $0.41/hr from 2025's $14.01/hr. At $14.42/hr, Vermont's floor is the second-highest among batch states (after Virginia's $12.77 — but Vermont's minimum actually exceeds Virginia's significantly), and only $4.15/hr below the statewide median.
• Local floors: No Vermont city or town has enacted a local minimum wage above the state rate. Burlington has not enacted a separate municipal minimum wage for private-sector employers.
• Loaded labor rate: Commercial cleaning bids in Vermont run approximately $28–$36/hr total loaded cost, reflecting the high base wage, elevated New England workers' comp costs, and Vermont's high general cost of living affecting overhead rates. Burlington-area bids should budget toward $32–$38/hr for institutional work.
• Workers' comp class 9014 — Vermont NCCI jurisdiction; estimated base rate approximately $2.50–$3.20/$100 payroll. Vermont's WC costs are above the national average, reflecting higher medical costs and the state's liability environment.

High-wage metros vs. low-wage metros

Burlington-South Burlington MSA is Vermont's only major metropolitan area, and BLS May 2024 data shows the building and grounds cleaning occupational group averaging $20.65/hr — well above the national $19.01/hr comparator. For SOC 37-2011 specifically, janitor wages in Burlington likely run $19.00–$20.00/hr, driven by the University of Vermont medical complex, UVM campus, and a growing tech presence. Vermont's nonmetropolitan areas — essentially the rest of the state — have a smaller commercial cleaning market but wages that remain elevated given the tight rural Vermont labor supply, estimated at $17.00–$18.00/hr. The absence of a low-wage metro in Vermont is itself notable: the entire state operates in a compressed, relatively high-wage band.

Wage percentile distribution (BLS OEWS 2024)

• 10th percentile: $15.21/hr
• 25th percentile: $17.10/hr
• Median (50th): $18.57/hr
• 75th percentile: $21.46/hr
• 90th percentile: $23.59/hr

Vermont's distribution is extremely compressed — the tightest in this batch — with only an $8.38/hr spread from 10th to 90th. Critically, the 10th percentile at $15.21/hr exceeds Vermont's 2026 minimum wage of $14.42/hr, confirming that virtually all Vermont commercial cleaning workers are compensated above the statutory minimum. The narrow band between 25th and 75th ($4.36/hr) reflects a homogeneous small-state market with limited wage variation across sectors and regions.

Union presence

Vermont has above-average union density (~7–9% private sector) for its region. AFSCME is active among state and university workers. SEIU 32BJ does not operate in Vermont's commercial cleaning market, but Vermont's high public-sector union density creates wage norms that spill over into private cleaning markets — particularly for hospital and university facility work where non-union contractors compete on wages with adjacent public employees. Commercial cleaning in Burlington is predominantly non-union at the contractor level, but effective wages reflect the competitive pressure from unionized public-sector comparators.

What this means for bid math

Vermont carries the highest labor costs in this batch after factoring in base wages, workers' comp burden, and Vermont's general overhead cost environment. The $18.57/hr median translates to $28–$36/hr total loaded labor (1.50–1.95× multiplier). Burlington institutional work — hospital, university, government — should be budgeted at $32–$38/hr fully loaded. The annual CPI adjustment to the minimum wage (approximately $0.35–$0.45/hr/year historically) means Vermont cleaning contracts with multi-year terms need at least 3–4% annual labor escalation provisions to remain viable. The $14.42/hr minimum is a genuine binding constraint for entry-level commercial work in rural Vermont, where some small contractors do operate near the floor.

Primary sources

• O*NET Local Wages — Vermont (BLS 2024 data)
• BLS OEWS May 2024 — Burlington-South Burlington, VT MSA
• NFIB — Vermont Minimum Wage Now $14.42 Per Hour (Jan 5, 2026)
• Vermont Minimum Wage 2026: Complete Guide For Employers
• DOL WHD State Minimum Wage Laws