📊 Employment Overview
Vermont employs 3,600 software engineering professionals, representing approximately 0.2% of the national workforce in this field. Vermont ranks #49 nationally for software engineering employment.
Total Employed
3,600
National Share
0.2%
State Ranking
#49
💰 Salary Information
Software Engineering professionals in Vermont earn competitive salaries across all experience levels, with an average annual salary of $124,000.
Note: Salaries are adjusted for cost of living and local market conditions. Data based on BLS statistics and industry surveys (2024-2025).
🎓 Schools Offering Software Engineering
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🏢 Industry Landscape & Top Employers
Vermont's software engineering market is among the smallest, employing approximately 5,500-7,500 engineers concentrated in Burlington (50%), Montpelier (15%), and small towns. The market is shaped by healthcare IT, small software companies, remote work transformation, and Vermont's appeal as a lifestyle destination for engineers seeking rural living, progressive values, and outdoor recreation.
Major Employers: Dealer.com (now Cox Automotive, Burlington) is Vermont's largest tech employer building automotive dealer software. MyWebGrocer (e-commerce for grocery), Keurig Dr Pepper employ technology teams. IBM operated Burlington facilities (largely closed). Universities (UVM, Middlebury) provide limited tech employment. However, Vermont's real tech story is remote work — hundreds of engineers live in Vermont working remotely for Boston, NYC, or national companies, attracted by quality of life, progressive culture, outdoor recreation.
Key Industry Clusters: Automotive dealer software from Dealer.com. Healthcare IT serving Vermont's hospital systems. Small software companies and consultancies. However, remote work dominates — Vermont has become a top destination for remote engineers seeking rural lifestyle, outdoor access, progressive politics, farm-to-table culture.
📈 Career Growth & Pathways
Vermont offers minimal local progression but strong remote work opportunities. Entry $68,000-$85,000 local, $100,000-$180,000+ remote. Mid-Level $88,000-$112,000 local. Career advancement requires remote work or relocation. Vermont engineers accept smaller local market for lifestyle — skiing, hiking, farm-to-table dining, progressive community, rural beauty.
💰 Salary vs. Cost of Living
Vermont offers moderate costs. Burlington near national average, rural areas below. Median homes $320,000-$450,000. State income tax progressive (tops 8.75% — high). Property taxes vary widely by town. Remote workers earning $130,000-$200,000 from Boston/NYC companies achieve strong purchasing power. Trade-offs: brutal winters (-10°F to 20°F common January), rural isolation, limited urban amenities, seasonal economy. However, skiing, hiking, farm culture, progressive values, genuine community.
📜 Licensing & Professional Development
No PE required. Cloud certs standard for remote work competitiveness. Vermont's tiny tech community very collegial. Remote engineers participate in Boston/NYC tech events. Geographic isolation requires intentional networking. UVM provides limited continuing education.
📊 Job Market Outlook
Local market: 1-2% growth, constrained by tiny population (645,000 — 2nd smallest state). Remote work transformation substantial — Vermont attracting hundreds of remote tech workers annually seeking lifestyle upgrade. Expected local additions: 75-125 positions annually, but remote worker population growing faster.
🕐 Day in the Life
Vermont engineering centers on lifestyle-first decisions. Remote workers ski before video calls, work from renovated barns or historic homes, hike after work. Burlington offers small-city amenities, Church Street marketplace, Lake Champlain. Rural engineers embrace farm-to-table culture, farmers markets, community connections. Winters test resolve but skiing exceptional (Stowe, Killington, Sugarbush). Engineers describe Vermont as "worth the trade-offs" — accept tiny local market, brutal winters, rural isolation for skiing, hiking, progressive community, genuine simplicity. For engineers prioritizing outdoor recreation, progressive values, and rural lifestyle over career velocity, Vermont delivers authentic New England experience.
🚀 Career Insights
Key information for software engineering professionals in Vermont.
Top Industries
Major employers in Vermont include manufacturing, technology, aerospace, and consulting firms.
Required Skills
Strong technical fundamentals, problem-solving abilities, CAD software proficiency, and project management experience.
Certifications
Professional Engineering (PE) license recommended for career advancement. FE exam is the first step.
Job Outlook
Steady growth expected in Vermont with increasing demand for specialized engineering expertise.
🔄 Compare with Other States
See how Vermont compares to other top states for software engineering:
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