Is New Jersey a good state for your salary to go far?

New Jersey ranks #19 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 101.1 across 371 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 108.8 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.

What is the cost of living in New Jersey?

New Jersey's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 108.8, where the US average is 100. That is above the national average, so a dollar buys less than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / New Jersey

Where Your Salary Goes Furthest in New Jersey

New Jersey ranks #19 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index (mean 101.1, base = 100). Cost of living 108.8 (US = 100); top income tax 10.75%.

Does a salary go further in New Jersey? (cost of living + state tax)

In New Jersey, the cost of living is 108.8 on the BEA index (US = 100) and the Gera US Real Pay Index averages 101.1 across 371 occupations, ranking it #19 of 51 states for how far pay goes after 2025 state income tax and 2024 BEA cost of living. Real BLS OEWS; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

New Jersey ranks #19 of 51 states. Mean across 371 occupations; 100 = the average state, 101.1 means pay goes 1.1% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

101.1

Real pay by occupation in New Jersey (best first)

Occupation	BLS median	Real pay	Index
Producers and Directors	$119,840	$105,139	150.8
Structural Iron and Steel Workers	$113,220	$99,442	142.7
Coaches and Scouts	$76,700	$68,015	142.0
General and Operations Managers	$173,690	$151,478	141.7
Personal Financial Advisors	$158,570	$138,467	141.6
Correctional Officers and Jailers	$94,770	$83,565	141.2
Lodging Managers	$107,720	$94,709	135.0
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers	$133,210	$116,644	134.9
Opticians, Dispensing	$72,460	$64,339	133.6
Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents	$96,420	$84,985	130.4
Firefighters	$84,130	$74,409	130.3
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers	$117,450	$103,082	130.0
Sheet Metal Workers	$92,840	$81,904	127.8
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers	$102,090	$89,864	127.0
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators	$89,660	$79,168	124.7
Roofers	$76,600	$67,929	124.4
Paramedics	$86,630	$76,560	124.1
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives	$142,990	$125,060	123.7
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors	$81,100	$71,802	123.0
Crane and Tower Operators	$100,640	$88,616	122.6
Labor Relations Specialists	$118,370	$103,874	122.3
Property Appraisers and Assessors	$92,390	$81,517	121.9
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare	$78,770	$69,797	121.7
Tree Trimmers and Pruners	$71,940	$63,888	121.7
Waiters and Waitresses	$44,960	$40,461	119.8
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers	$75,080	$66,614	119.8
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer	$158,730	$138,605	119.1
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining	$80,310	$71,122	118.4
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians	$105,370	$92,687	118.3
Bartenders	$44,020	$39,645	117.9
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors	$59,870	$53,407	117.6
Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians	$71,880	$63,836	117.3
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators	$78,760	$69,788	116.8
Audio and Video Technicians	$71,040	$63,106	116.7
Financial Managers	$199,110	$173,353	116.5
Construction Laborers	$64,060	$57,046	116.0
Child, Family, and School Social Workers	$76,280	$67,654	115.0
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants	$89,520	$79,047	114.9
Detectives and Criminal Investigators	$116,300	$102,092	114.3
Insurance Sales Agents	$81,640	$72,266	114.2

Showing the 40 highest real-pay occupations of 371 BLS publishes for New Jersey. Real pay = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the 2024 BEA cost of living (108.8, US = 100).

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In New Jersey, a $85,000 salary is worth about $69,723 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $9,138 (≈ top marginal 10.75% (upper bound)) · take-home $75,863 · BEA cost of living 108.8 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $95,952, a $26,229 gain over New Jersey.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$95,952	88.6
2	Arkansas	$93,959	86.9
3	Louisiana	$93,473	88.2
4	Mississippi	$93,453	87.0
5	Iowa	$93,172	87.8
6	North Dakota	$93,161	89.0
7	Tennessee	$92,522	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$92,167	87.8
9	Wyoming	$91,703	92.7
10	Alabama	$90,911	88.8
11	Kentucky	$90,507	90.2
12	West Virginia	$90,397	89.5

Browse US jobs with salaries

Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

New Jersey real pay — FAQ

Is New Jersey a good state for your salary to go far?: New Jersey ranks #19 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 101.1 across 371 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 108.8 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.
What is the cost of living in New Jersey?: New Jersey's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 108.8, where the US average is 100. That is above the national average, so a dollar buys less than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

Compare other states

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for New Jersey is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.