The $100,000 Salary Analysis for South Burlington

This analysis strips away the hype. A $100,000 salary in South Burlington, Vermont, is a solid professional income, but it does not make you wealthy here. You will live comfortably, not lavishly. We focus on the math, not the marketing.

1. The Verification Test

Let's see what a $100,000 gross salary actually puts in your bank account. We assume you are a single filer taking the standard deduction.

• Gross Salary: $100,000
• Federal Tax: ~$14,000
• FICA (Social Security & Medicare): ~$7,650
• Vermont State Tax: ~$4,800 (Est. effective rate of ~5.5% after deductions; VT has a progressive, high-tax structure compared to the national average.)
• Net Pay (Annual): ~$73,550
• Net Pay (Monthly): ~$6,130

The Bottom Line: You lose nearly $26,450 to taxes before you see a dime. Your actual take-home is roughly 73.5% of your gross pay.

2. Smart Budget (50/30/20 Rule)

Using your monthly take-home of $6,130, here is how the standard budget breakdown looks in reality.

Needs (50%): $3,065

This covers survival. South Burlington is expensive for Vermont, driven by housing and utilities.

• Rent (1BR Market Avg): $1,441
• Utilities (Electric/Heating/Internet): ~$250 (Heating costs in VT are significant in winter.)
• Groceries: ~$400
• Car Payment/Insurance/Gas: ~$600 (Public transit is limited; a car is a requirement.)
• Health Insurance (if not fully employer-paid): ~$374
• Remaining for Needs: ~$0 (This budget is tight. A single unexpected car repair breaks the month.)

Wants (30%): $1,839

This is your discretionary spending. In a cynical view, this is where your "quality of life" money goes.

• Dining out / Entertainment
• Hobbies / Travel
• Shopping

Savings (20%): $1,226

This is your financial future.

• Emergency Fund
• Retirement (401k/IRA)
• Down payment savings

The Reality Check: After rent and taxes, there isn't a massive amount of "fun" money left. You are not struggling, but you are budget-conscious.

3. South Burlington Tax Context

Vermont is not a tax haven. It is a high-tax state.

• Vs. No-Income-Tax States (Texas/Florida): If you earned $100k in Austin or Miami, your take-home would be roughly $78,500 (net). You pay a $5,000 premium to live in South Burlington just in state income tax.
• Vs. High-Tax States (California/NY): VT is slightly better than the top brackets in CA/NY, but the property taxes and sales taxes in Chittenden County often negate those savings.

Verdict: You are paying for the scenery and the relative stability of the local economy. You are not saving money on taxes here.

4. FAQ

"Is $100k good here?"
It is a "good" salary. It allows you to rent a 1BR, drive a reliable car, save for retirement, and eat out occasionally. It does not allow you to buy a house easily in South Burlington (median home price is $475k+) without a significant dual income or down payment. You are solidly middle class.

"Local income tax?"
No. South Burlington does not levy a local city income tax. The only income taxes you pay are Federal and Vermont State. However, the sales tax in Chittenden County is 7%, which is high and eats into your disposable income.