Average Salaries in New Jersey
Explore salaries across 755 occupations in New Jersey. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $73.7K, +19.8% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2024 estimates. Coverage: 755 occupations and 4,225,780 total jobs in New Jersey.
How the state compares
New Jersey is one of the higher-paying states in the country. Average wages here run meaningfully above the national level, though local cost of living often offsets some of that premium.
New Jersey has a large and diverse labor market, with meaningful employment across most occupations.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Physicians, All Other. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in New Jersey
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Top wages
Highest-paid occupations in New Jersey
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | $238.9K | 7,840 |
| Athletes And Sports Competitors | $214.6K | 360 |
| Neurologists | $213.2K | 190 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $202.3K | 9,010 |
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | $202.1K | N/A |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, And Magistrates | $200.2K | 990 |
| Computer And Information Systems Managers | $196.5K | 33,860 |
| Financial Managers | $188.8K | 32,370 |
| Compensation And Benefits Managers | $182.7K | 810 |
| Architectural And Engineering Managers | $174.2K | 4,320 |
Most jobs
Largest occupations in New Jersey
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Home Health And Personal Care Aides | 105,460 | $37.1K |
| Laborers And Freight, Stock, And Material Movers, Hand | 101,720 | $39.1K |
| Registered Nurses | 95,150 | $102.7K |
| Cashiers | 93,270 | $33.2K |
| Retail Salespersons | 87,760 | $35.6K |
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 86,980 | $33.3K |
| Packers And Packagers, Hand | 76,060 | $42.8K |
| Office Clerks, General | 71,140 | $48.0K |
| Stockers And Order Fillers | 70,780 | $36.8K |
| Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners | 67,590 | $37.3K |
What New Jersey specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in New Jersey than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Location quotient
Most concentrated occupations in New Jersey
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Shampooers | 5.71 | $31.5K |
| Therapists, All Other | 4.75 | $90.3K |
| Packers And Packagers, Hand | 4.59 | $42.8K |
| Transit And Railroad Police | 3.82 | $105.6K |
| Automotive And Watercraft Service Attendants | 3.58 | $34.4K |
| Word Processors And Typists | 3.39 | $50.1K |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 3.24 | $202.3K |
| Religious Workers, All Other | 3.02 | $60.3K |
| Materials Scientists | 2.73 | $83.1K |
| Dredge Operators | 2.73 | $70.4K |
Peer markets
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $86.2K | Obstetricians And Gynecologists |
| California | $77.6K | Chief Executives |
| Washington | $77.0K | Podiatrists |
| New York | $76.7K | Physicians, All Other |
| Massachusetts | $75.6K | Dentists, All Other Specialists |
| Alaska | $73.0K | Dentists, General |
| Connecticut | $72.7K | Nurse Anesthetists |
| Maryland | $72.0K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
Metros inside New Jersey
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Inside this state
Major metros in New Jersey
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $75.7K | 220,060 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $65.7K | 160,450 |
| Vineland, NJ | $64.8K | 54,900 |
Common salary questions for New Jersey
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other states with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.