The state government’s highest-paid employees — health and judiciary officials, Gov. Phil Scott and others — earn well over six figures. Often they receive the most media and public attention, too.
But more than half of the state’s 10,000-plus employees are making no more than $71,531.20, according to a Burlington Free Press analysis of August salary numbers from the Vermont Human Resources Department. The state keeps an online database with every employee’s earnings.
Below you can see the state jobs that pay the least, all of them temporary and hourly positions. Don’t worry — the top 10 highest earners are down there, too. Spoiler: The governor ranks sixth on the list, up from ninth in 2021 and seventh in 2020.
Which state jobs make the least money?
- Motorcycle safety instructor/aide, Transportation Agency, temporary – $14.01/hour
- Secretary clerk trainee, Taxes Department, temporary – $14.79/hour
- Veterans home utility worker, Vermont Veterans’ Home, temporary – $14.98/hour
- Transportation intern maintenance worker, Transportation Agency, temporary – $15.69/hour
- Fish culture worker, Fish and Wildlife Department, temporary – $17.19-$17.95/hour
- Park attendant, Forests, Parks and Recreation Department, temporary – $17.40-$24.22/hour
- Agency intern, Administration Agency, temporary – $18.00-$22/hour
- Tie: Maintenance mechanic B, Military Department; administrative services tech 1, Health Department; natural resources instructor, Fish and Wildlife Department; state trail crew member I, Forest, Parks and Recreation Department; program services clerk, shared by Department for Children and Families and Public Safety Department; environmental assistant C, Fish and Wildlife Department; park maintenance worker II, Forest, Parks and Recreation Department, all temporary – $18.01/hour
- Lifeguard, Forests, Park and Recreation Department, temporary – $18.01-$18.83/hour
- Ferryboat deckhand, Forests, Parks and Recreation Department, temporary – $18.01-$19.49/hour
State employees who earn the most
- Elizabeth Bundock, chief medical examiner, Health Department – $333,571
- Kathleen McCubbin, deputy chief medical examiner, Health Department – $266,385
- Michael Rapaport, Medicaid medical director, Vermont Health Access – $255,756.80
- Elaine Amoresano, deputy chief medical examiner, Health Department – $251,596.80
- John Meran Saroyan, director of Blueprint for Health, Vermont Health Access – $235,331.20
- Phil Scott, governor of Vermont – $226,012.80
- Paul Reiber, Vermont Supreme Court chief justice – $225,576
- Therese Corsones, state court administrator; Thomas Zonay, Vermont Superior Court chief judge; and Supreme Court associate justices William Cohen, Harold Eaton and Nancy Waples – $215,280
- Wendy Shapiro, Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital CEO, Mental Health Department – $213,096
- Thomas Walsh, Superior Court environmental division judge, and all salaried Superior Court judges – $204,651.20
How much do state legislators get paid?
During the legislative session, state lawmakers make $945.72 weekly, or about $24,626.55 for roughly six months of work. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth and Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski make a bit more at $1,046.88 weekly, or $27,260.76 for roughly six months of work. Over 80% of state employees earn more than legislators do.
Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.
