Jobs that actually got a raise in New Jersey

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

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 · Real change since 2019

1Therapists, All Other$100,250
Bachelor's degree
$64,750 – $172,230+66.1%+109.1% nominal
2Waiters and Waitresses$44,960
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $78,510+47.9%+86.2% nominal
3Solar Photovoltaic Installers$78,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,600 – $102,050+46.6%+84.5% nominal
4Counter and Rental Clerks$48,900
No formal educational credential
$35,540 – $75,520+45.1%+82.7% nominal
5Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$54,260
Bachelor's degree
$35,940 – $81,120+43.9%+81.2% nominal
6Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$46,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,720 – $57,670+41.1%+77.7% nominal
7Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$35,990
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $38,750+38.1%+73.9% nominal
8Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants$35,350
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $44,840+37.9%+73.7% nominal
9Packers and Packagers, Hand$43,840
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $47,310+36.7%+72.1% nominal
10Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$51,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,670 – $99,840+35.8%+71.0% nominal
11Producers and Directors$119,840
Bachelor's degree
$62,310 – $206,770+33.3%+67.8% nominal
12Gambling Dealers$33,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,220 – $69,910+30.5%+64.3% nominal
13Amusement and Recreation Attendants$34,500
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $40,110+28.8%+62.2% nominal
14Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$54,630
No formal educational credential
$37,590 – $71,230+28.5%+61.8% nominal
15Bartenders$44,020
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $80,480+27.9%+61.1% nominal
16Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$36,050
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $40,770+27.8%+60.9% nominal
17Fast Food and Counter Workers$34,150
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $39,130+25.8%+58.4% nominal
18Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$36,290
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $47,730+25.4%+57.9% nominal
19Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$38,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,860 – $47,690+24.4%+56.6% nominal
20Technical Writers$122,320
Bachelor's degree
$69,400 – $163,390+24.1%+56.3% nominal
21Dishwashers$35,900
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $42,860+23.9%+56.0% nominal
22Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$34,760
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $42,860+23.6%+55.7% nominal
23Coaches and Scouts$76,700
Bachelor's degree
$39,720 – $121,960+23.6%+55.6% nominal
24Nursing Assistants$46,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,900 – $55,140+22.7%+54.6% nominal
25Production Workers, All Other$40,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,440 – $58,770+22.7%+54.5% nominal
26Sewing Machine Operators$36,130
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $46,170+22.5%+54.3% nominal
27Personal Financial Advisors$158,570
Bachelor's degree
$78,860 – $374,530+22.5%+54.3% nominal
28Parking Attendants$35,100
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $42,290+22.3%+54.0% nominal
29Manicurists and Pedicurists$36,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,220 – $39,390+21.4%+52.8% nominal
30Food Preparation Workers$35,540
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $46,070+21.2%+52.6% nominal
31Cashiers$34,590
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $43,260+21.0%+52.4% nominal
32Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$34,050
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $43,160+20.1%+51.2% nominal
33Animal Caretakers$35,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,220 – $49,620+20.0%+51.1% nominal
34Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$43,780
Bachelor's degree
$34,170 – $58,670+20.0%+51.1% nominal
35Travel Agents$61,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,140 – $77,560+20.0%+51.1% nominal
36Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$34,170
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $45,630+19.3%+50.2% nominal
37Family Medicine Physicians$292,170
Doctoral or professional degree
$151,840 – $403,430+18.7%+49.4% nominal
38Sheet Metal Workers$92,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,290 – $130,630+18.6%+49.3% nominal
39Psychiatric Technicians$54,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,770 – $64,620+18.5%+49.2% nominal
40Skincare Specialists$45,870
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,180 – $80,980+17.2%+47.6% nominal
41Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$36,390
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $43,800+16.6%+46.9% nominal
42Retail Salespersons$36,520
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $60,210+16.5%+46.7% nominal
43Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service$43,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,040 – $61,510+16.3%+46.4% nominal
44Home Health and Personal Care Aides$37,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,220 – $48,180+16.0%+46.0% nominal
45Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$40,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,230 – $59,800+16.0%+46.1% nominal
46File Clerks$44,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,370 – $65,100+15.3%+45.2% nominal
47Tire Repairers and Changers$44,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,370 – $61,610+15.0%+44.8% nominal
48Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$37,980
No formal educational credential
$32,760 – $49,240+14.9%+44.7% nominal
49Helpers--Production Workers$39,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,440 – $58,520+14.1%+43.7% nominal
50Surgical Technologists$77,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,270 – $100,490+13.2%+42.5% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Therapists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$100,250	$64,750 – $172,230	+66.1%+109.1% nominal
2	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$44,960	$32,220 – $78,510	+47.9%+86.2% nominal
3	Solar Photovoltaic InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,950	$47,600 – $102,050	+46.6%+84.5% nominal
4	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$48,900	$35,540 – $75,520	+45.1%+82.7% nominal
5	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$54,260	$35,940 – $81,120	+43.9%+81.2% nominal
6	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,160	$36,720 – $57,670	+41.1%+77.7% nominal
7	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket TakersNo formal educational credential	$35,990	$32,220 – $38,750	+38.1%+73.9% nominal
8	Automotive and Watercraft Service AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$35,350	$32,220 – $44,840	+37.9%+73.7% nominal
9	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$43,840	$32,220 – $47,310	+36.7%+72.1% nominal
10	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,120	$38,670 – $99,840	+35.8%+71.0% nominal
11	Producers and DirectorsBachelor's degree	$119,840	$62,310 – $206,770	+33.3%+67.8% nominal
12	Gambling DealersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33,000	$32,220 – $69,910	+30.5%+64.3% nominal
13	Amusement and Recreation AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$34,500	$32,220 – $40,110	+28.8%+62.2% nominal
14	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$54,630	$37,590 – $71,230	+28.5%+61.8% nominal
15	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$44,020	$32,220 – $80,480	+27.9%+61.1% nominal
16	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$36,050	$32,220 – $40,770	+27.8%+60.9% nominal
17	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$34,150	$32,220 – $39,130	+25.8%+58.4% nominal
18	Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$36,290	$32,220 – $47,730	+25.4%+57.9% nominal
19	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,110	$33,860 – $47,690	+24.4%+56.6% nominal
20	Technical WritersBachelor's degree	$122,320	$69,400 – $163,390	+24.1%+56.3% nominal
21	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$35,900	$32,220 – $42,860	+23.9%+56.0% nominal
22	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$34,760	$32,220 – $42,860	+23.6%+55.7% nominal
23	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$76,700	$39,720 – $121,960	+23.6%+55.6% nominal
24	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,830	$38,900 – $55,140	+22.7%+54.6% nominal
25	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,000	$34,440 – $58,770	+22.7%+54.5% nominal
26	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$36,130	$32,220 – $46,170	+22.5%+54.3% nominal
27	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$158,570	$78,860 – $374,530	+22.5%+54.3% nominal
28	Parking AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$35,100	$32,220 – $42,290	+22.3%+54.0% nominal
29	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$36,370	$32,220 – $39,390	+21.4%+52.8% nominal
30	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$35,540	$32,220 – $46,070	+21.2%+52.6% nominal
31	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$34,590	$32,220 – $43,260	+21.0%+52.4% nominal
32	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$34,050	$32,220 – $43,160	+20.1%+51.2% nominal
33	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,850	$32,220 – $49,620	+20.0%+51.1% nominal
34	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$43,780	$34,170 – $58,670	+20.0%+51.1% nominal
35	Travel AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,090	$36,140 – $77,560	+20.0%+51.1% nominal
36	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$34,170	$32,220 – $45,630	+19.3%+50.2% nominal
37	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$292,170	$151,840 – $403,430	+18.7%+49.4% nominal
38	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,840	$46,290 – $130,630	+18.6%+49.3% nominal
39	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,040	$45,770 – $64,620	+18.5%+49.2% nominal
40	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,870	$35,180 – $80,980	+17.2%+47.6% nominal
41	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$36,390	$32,220 – $43,800	+16.6%+46.9% nominal
42	Retail SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$36,520	$32,220 – $60,210	+16.5%+46.7% nominal
43	Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,700	$37,040 – $61,510	+16.3%+46.4% nominal
44	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,090	$32,220 – $48,180	+16.0%+46.0% nominal
45	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,280	$32,230 – $59,800	+16.0%+46.1% nominal
46	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,400	$33,370 – $65,100	+15.3%+45.2% nominal
47	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,440	$33,370 – $61,610	+15.0%+44.8% nominal
48	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$37,980	$32,760 – $49,240	+14.9%+44.7% nominal
49	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,290	$32,440 – $58,520	+14.1%+43.7% nominal
50	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,200	$48,270 – $100,490	+13.2%+42.5% nominal

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.

Jobs that actually got a raise in New Jersey

More for New Jersey

Metro areas in New Jersey

By field in New Jersey

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state