High paying entry level jobs in New Jersey

These occupations in New Jersey ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in New Jersey run 8.8% above the national average (2024), so a New Jersey salary is worth about 0.92× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in New Jersey.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in New Jersey

OccupationMedian, New Jersey · Employed

1Dentists, General$171,330
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,920 – $349,7802,980
2Physician Assistants$165,690
Master's degree
$117,860 – $207,0004,790
3Lawyers$161,430
Doctoral or professional degree
$93,810 – $328,27023,160
4Veterinarians$160,140
Doctoral or professional degree
$103,720 – $274,8501,910
5Nurse Practitioners$159,310
Master's degree
$122,390 – $183,4209,950
6Optometrists$159,040
Doctoral or professional degree
$104,730 – $232,9601,380
7Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$158,730
Bachelor's degree
$95,430 – $205,7101,820
8Computer and Information Research Scientists$140,840
Master's degree
$85,780 – $209,8501,580
9Pharmacists$137,620
Doctoral or professional degree
$112,560 – $172,1109,420
10Software Developers$135,940
Bachelor's degree
$84,880 – $207,20051,570
11Data Scientists$135,280
Bachelor's degree
$80,720 – $203,9506,430
12Chiropractors$134,990
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,690 – $154,1601,370
13Engineers, All Other$132,450
Bachelor's degree
$80,350 – $195,1904,540
14Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$129,280
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,540 – $216,6506,120
15Financial Risk Specialists$129,220
Bachelor's degree
$81,230 – $199,0302,760
16Aerospace Engineers$126,430
Bachelor's degree
$103,230 – $163,7703,400
17Database Administrators$125,860
Bachelor's degree
$69,080 – $176,1301,810
18Electrical Engineers$125,370
Bachelor's degree
$80,630 – $174,4502,940
19Project Management Specialists$122,980
Bachelor's degree
$74,410 – $190,60028,300
20Computer Systems Analysts$122,890
Bachelor's degree
$73,520 – $176,43016,520
21Biochemists and Biophysicists$122,620
Doctoral or professional degree
$80,070 – $162,2402,570
22Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$119,470
Bachelor's degree
$70,150 – $168,6806,550
23Network and Computer Systems Administrators$116,420
Bachelor's degree
$73,990 – $166,6909,280
24Mechanical Engineers$112,300
Bachelor's degree
$79,160 – $162,8004,180
25Physical Therapists$112,140
Doctoral or professional degree
$84,640 – $140,0409,750
26Financial and Investment Analysts$108,610
Bachelor's degree
$71,650 – $179,77010,380
27Computer Occupations, All Other$108,310
Bachelor's degree
$48,380 – $207,95012,010
28Dental Hygienists$107,040
Associate's degree
$94,260 – $117,7307,230
29Registered Nurses$106,500
Bachelor's degree
$83,060 – $135,17092,680
30Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$105,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$72,760 – $133,7901,900
31Computer Programmers$104,940
Bachelor's degree
$65,000 – $172,9903,930
32Civil Engineers$104,660
Bachelor's degree
$74,640 – $169,2206,900
33Industrial Engineers$103,840
Bachelor's degree
$78,100 – $161,7406,870
34Occupational Therapists$103,410
Master's degree
$78,690 – $159,2306,290
35Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$103,150
Associate's degree
$80,090 – $134,5503,370
36Accountants and Auditors$100,830
Bachelor's degree
$65,710 – $167,08042,250
37Respiratory Therapists$100,810
Associate's degree
$78,000 – $123,3703,350
38Therapists, All Other$100,250
Bachelor's degree
$64,750 – $172,2307,090
39Financial Specialists, All Other$98,630
Bachelor's degree
$60,160 – $161,1905,510
40Web and Digital Interface Designers$95,310
Bachelor's degree
$50,340 – $173,4702,170
41Web Developers$95,180
Bachelor's degree
$51,010 – $151,0202,250
42Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$95,000
Associate's degree
$71,770 – $118,4106,320
43Logisticians$92,280
Bachelor's degree
$63,740 – $136,5906,280
44Special Education Teachers, Preschool$92,060
Bachelor's degree
$61,880 – $138,0501,720
45Business Operations Specialists, All Other$91,060
Bachelor's degree
$53,300 – $151,17034,210
46Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$90,610
Bachelor's degree
$54,580 – $128,4903,830
47Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$88,190
Bachelor's degree
$49,900 – $145,01022,990
48Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,510
Associate's degree
$58,460 – $118,1202,250
49Business Teachers, Postsecondary$85,250
Doctoral or professional degree
$32,220 – $179,2903,190
50Chemists$84,450
Bachelor's degree
$60,910 – $144,0305,280

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianNew Jersey	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$171,330	$77,920 – $349,780	2,980
2	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$165,690	$117,860 – $207,000	4,790
3	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$161,430	$93,810 – $328,270	23,160
4	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$160,140	$103,720 – $274,850	1,910
5	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$159,310	$122,390 – $183,420	9,950
6	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$159,040	$104,730 – $232,960	1,380
7	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$158,730	$95,430 – $205,710	1,820
8	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$140,840	$85,780 – $209,850	1,580
9	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$137,620	$112,560 – $172,110	9,420
10	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$135,940	$84,880 – $207,200	51,570
11	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$135,280	$80,720 – $203,950	6,430
12	ChiropractorsDoctoral or professional degree	$134,990	$78,690 – $154,160	1,370
13	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$132,450	$80,350 – $195,190	4,540
14	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$129,280	$77,540 – $216,650	6,120
15	Financial Risk SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$129,220	$81,230 – $199,030	2,760
16	Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree	$126,430	$103,230 – $163,770	3,400
17	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$125,860	$69,080 – $176,130	1,810
18	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$125,370	$80,630 – $174,450	2,940
19	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$122,980	$74,410 – $190,600	28,300
20	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$122,890	$73,520 – $176,430	16,520
21	Biochemists and BiophysicistsDoctoral or professional degree	$122,620	$80,070 – $162,240	2,570
22	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$119,470	$70,150 – $168,680	6,550
23	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$116,420	$73,990 – $166,690	9,280
24	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$112,300	$79,160 – $162,800	4,180
25	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$112,140	$84,640 – $140,040	9,750
26	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$108,610	$71,650 – $179,770	10,380
27	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$108,310	$48,380 – $207,950	12,010
28	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$107,040	$94,260 – $117,730	7,230
29	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$106,500	$83,060 – $135,170	92,680
30	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$105,370	$72,760 – $133,790	1,900
31	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$104,940	$65,000 – $172,990	3,930
32	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$104,660	$74,640 – $169,220	6,900
33	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$103,840	$78,100 – $161,740	6,870
34	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$103,410	$78,690 – $159,230	6,290
35	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$103,150	$80,090 – $134,550	3,370
36	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$100,830	$65,710 – $167,080	42,250
37	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$100,810	$78,000 – $123,370	3,350
38	Therapists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$100,250	$64,750 – $172,230	7,090
39	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$98,630	$60,160 – $161,190	5,510
40	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$95,310	$50,340 – $173,470	2,170
41	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$95,180	$51,010 – $151,020	2,250
42	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$95,000	$71,770 – $118,410	6,320
43	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$92,280	$63,740 – $136,590	6,280
44	Special Education Teachers, PreschoolBachelor's degree	$92,060	$61,880 – $138,050	1,720
45	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$91,060	$53,300 – $151,170	34,210
46	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$90,610	$54,580 – $128,490	3,830
47	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$88,190	$49,900 – $145,010	22,990
48	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,510	$58,460 – $118,120	2,250
49	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$85,250	$32,220 – $179,290	3,190
50	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$84,450	$60,910 – $144,030	5,280

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in New Jersey. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

More for New Jersey

Metro areas in New Jersey

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in New Jersey

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in New Jersey to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in New Jersey

More for New Jersey

Metro areas in New Jersey

By field in New Jersey

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state