Average salary in New Jersey

According to Forbes, New Jersey ranks as the seventh most expensive state to live in. Despite the high cost of living, New Jersey offers several advantages for workers, including access to major metropolitan areas like New York City and Philadelphia, as well as a diverse range of industries. Indeed, the higher cost of living means salaries tend to be higher to match.  

Whether you already live in New Jersey or are considering a move, it is important to understand the financial landscape. But which cities and counties offer the highest average salaries? 

Average salary in New Jersey by city 

City living is often more expensive than living in more rural areas, but it’s also where the money is. New Jersey’s own cities can vary massively in average salary; cities like Middletown Township and Edison command well into six figures, while Newark's average sits below $42,000.  

Average earnings by city—or any other geographical metric—is just one way of calculating wealth, and certainly shouldn’t be the only way you look at your own earning potential in a given place. It doesn’t take into account the type of jobs that people do to earn above or below this average bracket, and omits any consideration for the number of people living in a household. However, it’s certainly one way of establishing which place offers good earning opportunities.  

The US Census Bureau’s latest American Community Survey has calculated the average earnings for the 20 largest cities in New Jersey, which you can find ranked below.  

Average salary in New Jersey by county 

Reviewing average salaries in New Jersey by city is not necessarily an adequate metric for average salaries across the state, since it’s entirely urban focused. A good idea is to weigh these figures up against the average salary in New Jersey by county, as this will take areas outside the main cities into account and offer a broader idea of salary ranges.  

The same survey from the US Census Bureau gives further insight this way, with the average household income calculated for each county.  

Highest paying jobs in New Jersey

There’s another weighty factor that will influence how much you earn if you live in New Jersey: your job type. Average salaries for various sectors and job roles can vary massively across the state, so it’s absolutely something to consider when looking at salaries by location.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has calculated a comprehensive list of annual salaries by occupation area, which you can also find below.

Frequently asked questions about salaries in New Jersey

What is the average salary in New Jersey by age?
Alongside location and occupation, salaries in New Jersey are also dependent on age, since more senior workers will be paid more. Then, when they retire, their income will dip again as they will rely on pensions and other forms of set income.

The Census Bureau data finds that householders under 25 have a median household income of $52,657; householders aged 24 to 44 years old have a median income of $92,366; those aged 45 to 64 years old have a median income of $103,820; and those 65 and older have a median income of $61,413.

What is a ‘good’ salary in New Jersey?
The median income in New Jersey is $91,420. Defining 'good' relies on all sorts of variable factors and these should be taken into account. For example, $120,000 is a higher salary than the state average.

What is the average salary in New Jersey by hour?
If Americans work an average of 1,801 hours per year—at 37.5 hours a week—then the average hourly salary in New Jersey is $50.69.

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