Entry-Level Registered Nurse Salary in Burlington, VT: $84,459 (2026)
Quick Answer:New registered nurses entering the Burlington, VT job market in 2026 can expect a starting salary around $84,459 (BLS 10th-percentile benchmark for SOC 29-1141, projected from 2025 OEWS data). Stripping out Burlington's local price level (BEA RPP 100.9 — 1% above national), a first-year paycheck buys what $83,665 would in average-cost America. Most reach the city median ($103,551) within a few years of clinical practice.
Official BLS data · View source
A consideration of the entry-level registered nurse salary in Burlington, VT, reveals a promising start for new graduates in 2026. With a projected entry-level wage at $84,459, recent nursing program graduates can anticipate an initial pay that is slightly lower than the $103,551 median annual salary in the city. However, the anticipated salary increases substantially as nurses gain experience, with the potential to reach $87,976 at the 25th percentile within the early years. The strong growth trajectory of 5.31% annually indicates that Burlington represents a solid market for new RNs. Graduates can expect to strategically navigate their early careers, progressively elevating their earnings within the supportive healthcare ecosystem of Burlington.
Career Earnings Timeline in Burlington
New Graduate
Early Career
Mid Career
Experienced
Salary progression estimated from BLS percentile data. Actual progression varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Burlington
Entry-level registered nurses in Burlington, VT typically start between $84,459 and $87,976 per year (2026 est.). The full salary range spans $48,337 from the 10th to 90th percentile, with the local median at $103,551 — 0.8% above the national median.
Return on Investment
The average nursing program cost in Vermont of $68,000 represents just 80.51% of the starting registered nurse pay ($84,459/year) in Burlington. Most graduates begin earning back their investment from day one, though actual ROI varies based on living expenses, loan interest, and the 2-year opportunity cost of schooling.
Program cost estimates based on ACEN- and CCNE-accredited nursing programs and state board of nursing data. Tuition varies significantly between community college ADN, public university BSN, and private university BSN pathways.
RN Salary Negotiation Tips for New Graduates in Burlington
- 1Research the Burlington market: entry-level registered nurse pay ranges from $84,459 to $87,976, so aim for at least the 25th percentile if you have strong credentials.
- 2Highlight any additional certifications or specialty training within the nursing field — employers in VT often pay a premium for expanded scope of work.
- 3Evaluate the full compensation package — in Burlington, benefits like health insurance, continuing-education allowances, and schedule flexibility can add 20-30% to your effective compensation.
- 4Consider starting with a larger hospital system or multi-site employer in Burlington for competitive entry-level pay and structured mentorship, then move to a smaller employer once you have 2-3 years of experience.
- 5Burlington's moderate cost of living means your starting salary goes further here compared to many larger metro areas.
Registered Nurse Compensation Range
The registered nurse wage spread in Burlington is $48,337 ( 57.23%) between entry-level and top earners. Starting at $84,459, experienced hygienists can earn up to $132,796.
Represents the current salary spread across experience levels, not projected career growth rate.
2019 BLS Actual
$52,500
2025 BLS Actual
$80,200
2026 Current Est.
$84,459
2019–2027 Growth
+69.4%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Burlington (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $52,500 | Actual |
| 2020 | $53,000 | Actual |
| 2021 | $59,900 | Actual |
| 2022 | $60,900 | Actual |
| 2023 | $65,760 | Actual |
| 2024 | $77,150 | Actual |
| 2025 | $80,200 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $84,459 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $88,943 | Projected |
Entry-level registered nurse compensation (10th percentile) in Burlington, VT grew 52.8% over 7 years based on actual BLS metropolitan area surveys, rising from $52,500 in 2019 to $80,200 in 2025. By 2027, starting salaries are projected to reach $88,943. New graduates entering the Burlington job market can expect continued year-over-year gains.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Burlington metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.31% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Starting Your nursing Career in Burlington
When it comes to securing a first job, Burlington offers various opportunities for new grads, especially within its healthcare systems that prioritize residency programs and mentorship. Larger institutions from the area tend to sponsor structured new-grad nurse residency programs, providing rotations through critical care, emergency departments, and general floors, allowing new RNs to gain diverse experience. Community hospitals frequently cross-train new hires more rapidly, catering to the immediate demands of the healthcare sector. Earning an active RN license, along with an ASN or BSN diploma, is essential, while pursuing further credentials such as specialty certifications can enhance career prospects and starting salaries. As travel nursing remains popular, especially in high-cost-of-living areas, RNs with experience and specialty qualifications find themselves in demand. It is crucial for newly minted nurses to focus on skill sets that align with Burlington's job market, as maintaining certifications and being open to shifts like nights and weekends often translates into valuable differential pay that can significantly impact their overall compensation in the early stages of their careers.
More salary data for Burlington, VT:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN
Career Analyst
Jordan Lee has 10 years of experience as a registered nurse. Their specialty is pediatric nursing in a community hospital. They analyze nursing workforce trends and salary data.
Methodology & Data Source
Entry-level salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The 10th percentile (entry-level) is used as the starting salary benchmark for new nursing graduates. A 5.31% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 entry-level compensation in Burlington. Program costs are averages and actual tuition varies by institution. ROI calculations are simplified estimates.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.31%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for registered nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN, a licensed registered nurse with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov