Jobs that lost the most to inflation in New Jersey

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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

1Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks$38,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,780 – $76,910-53.6%-41.6% nominal
2Butchers and Meat Cutters$38,540
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $65,940-40.2%-24.7% nominal
3Rehabilitation Counselors$49,730
Master's degree
$39,700 – $92,670-38.3%-22.3% nominal
4Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$81,500
Doctoral or professional degree
$32,220 – $176,830-33.6%-16.4% nominal
5Business Teachers, Postsecondary$85,250
Doctoral or professional degree
$32,220 – $179,290-32.3%-14.8% nominal
6Advertising Sales Agents$69,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,760 – $125,890-31.5%-13.7% nominal
7Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$76,980
Doctoral or professional degree
$32,220 – $128,910-30.1%-12.0% nominal
8Tax Preparers$43,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,250 – $77,640-29.6%-11.4% nominal
9Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$66,590
Master's degree
$45,180 – $102,130-27.9%-9.2% nominal
10Medical Transcriptionists$39,020
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,220 – $55,950-27.3%-8.4% nominal
11Chemists$84,450
Bachelor's degree
$60,910 – $144,030-25.3%-6.0% nominal
12Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary$80,790
Doctoral or professional degree
$32,730 – $163,560-23.2%-3.3% nominal
13Communications Teachers, Postsecondary$77,780
Doctoral or professional degree
$32,220 – $132,870-23.1%-3.2% nominal
14Postal Service Mail Carriers$61,130
No formal educational credential
$43,120 – $81,040-23.0%-3.0% nominal
15Food Service Managers$78,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,240 – $122,510-22.0%-1.7% nominal
16Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$96,630
Doctoral or professional degree
$32,220 – $271,030-21.0%-0.5% nominal
17Education Administrators, Postsecondary$131,570
Master's degree
$84,060 – $224,550-20.5%+0.2% nominal
18Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$60,530
No formal educational credential
$47,440 – $76,360-20.1%+0.6% nominal
19Training and Development Managers$160,540
Bachelor's degree
$95,160 – $234,520-19.7%+1.1% nominal
20Financial Examiners$106,410
Bachelor's degree
$72,800 – $205,030-19.7%+1.1% nominal
21Computer Network Support Specialists$87,440
Associate's degree
$50,830 – $136,260-19.3%+1.7% nominal
22Training and Development Specialists$77,020
Bachelor's degree
$36,570 – $133,700-19.2%+1.7% nominal
23Self-Enrichment Teachers$53,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,370 – $96,680-18.6%+2.5% nominal
24Education Teachers, Postsecondary$77,600
Doctoral or professional degree
$32,220 – $129,930-18.3%+2.9% nominal
25Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$61,910
Bachelor's degree
$45,420 – $89,130-18.3%+2.9% nominal
26Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$79,210
Bachelor's degree
$52,760 – $130,590-17.9%+3.3% nominal
27Chefs and Head Cooks$74,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,200 – $100,100-17.8%+3.5% nominal
28Construction Managers$138,230
Bachelor's degree
$93,130 – $222,580-17.8%+3.5% nominal
29Firefighters$84,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,920 – $123,940-17.6%+3.8% nominal
30Computer User Support Specialists$64,470
Some college, no degree
$41,830 – $105,380-17.1%+4.5% nominal
31Architectural and Civil Drafters$62,960
Associate's degree
$44,700 – $96,120-17.1%+4.4% nominal
32English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$78,760
Doctoral or professional degree
$32,220 – $149,590-16.6%+5.0% nominal
33Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$92,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,740 – $134,260-16.6%+5.1% nominal
34Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$129,280
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,540 – $216,650-16.5%+5.2% nominal
35Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$68,450
Bachelor's degree
$46,530 – $107,470-16.2%+5.6% nominal
36Demonstrators and Product Promoters$36,420
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $44,980-16.1%+5.6% nominal
37Postal Service Clerks$64,290
No formal educational credential
$54,330 – $76,360-15.9%+5.8% nominal
38First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$142,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$114,480 – $181,010-15.5%+6.4% nominal
39Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists$85,040
Bachelor's degree
$56,820 – $136,080-15.4%+6.6% nominal
40Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$82,200
Bachelor's degree
$63,040 – $108,230-15.1%+6.9% nominal
41Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$137,440
Master's degree
$103,030 – $188,060-15.0%+7.0% nominal
42First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$133,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$105,990 – $164,610-15.0%+7.0% nominal
43Civil Engineers$104,660
Bachelor's degree
$74,640 – $169,220-15.0%+7.0% nominal
44Carpenters$64,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,680 – $121,490-14.9%+7.2% nominal
45Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$61,410
No formal educational credential
$44,730 – $105,920-14.8%+7.3% nominal
46Management Analysts$105,820
Bachelor's degree
$56,820 – $175,670-14.7%+7.4% nominal
47Occupational Therapists$103,410
Master's degree
$78,690 – $159,230-14.5%+7.7% nominal
48Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$88,190
Bachelor's degree
$49,900 – $145,010-14.4%+7.8% nominal
49Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$36,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,220 – $92,090-14.3%+7.9% nominal
50Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$59,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,620 – $104,000-14.3%+7.9% 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	Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,780	$38,780 – $76,910	-53.6%-41.6% nominal
2	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$38,540	$32,220 – $65,940	-40.2%-24.7% nominal
3	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$49,730	$39,700 – $92,670	-38.3%-22.3% nominal
4	Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$81,500	$32,220 – $176,830	-33.6%-16.4% nominal
5	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$85,250	$32,220 – $179,290	-32.3%-14.8% nominal
6	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,620	$37,760 – $125,890	-31.5%-13.7% nominal
7	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$76,980	$32,220 – $128,910	-30.1%-12.0% nominal
8	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,420	$34,250 – $77,640	-29.6%-11.4% nominal
9	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$66,590	$45,180 – $102,130	-27.9%-9.2% nominal
10	Medical TranscriptionistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$39,020	$32,220 – $55,950	-27.3%-8.4% nominal
11	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$84,450	$60,910 – $144,030	-25.3%-6.0% nominal
12	Psychology Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$80,790	$32,730 – $163,560	-23.2%-3.3% nominal
13	Communications Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$77,780	$32,220 – $132,870	-23.1%-3.2% nominal
14	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$61,130	$43,120 – $81,040	-23.0%-3.0% nominal
15	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,020	$55,240 – $122,510	-22.0%-1.7% nominal
16	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$96,630	$32,220 – $271,030	-21.0%-0.5% nominal
17	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$131,570	$84,060 – $224,550	-20.5%+0.2% nominal
18	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$60,530	$47,440 – $76,360	-20.1%+0.6% nominal
19	Training and Development ManagersBachelor's degree	$160,540	$95,160 – $234,520	-19.7%+1.1% nominal
20	Financial ExaminersBachelor's degree	$106,410	$72,800 – $205,030	-19.7%+1.1% nominal
21	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$87,440	$50,830 – $136,260	-19.3%+1.7% nominal
22	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$77,020	$36,570 – $133,700	-19.2%+1.7% nominal
23	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,780	$36,370 – $96,680	-18.6%+2.5% nominal
24	Education Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$77,600	$32,220 – $129,930	-18.3%+2.9% nominal
25	Community and Social Service Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$61,910	$45,420 – $89,130	-18.3%+2.9% nominal
26	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$79,210	$52,760 – $130,590	-17.9%+3.3% nominal
27	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,280	$49,200 – $100,100	-17.8%+3.5% nominal
28	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$138,230	$93,130 – $222,580	-17.8%+3.5% nominal
29	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$84,130	$47,920 – $123,940	-17.6%+3.8% nominal
30	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$64,470	$41,830 – $105,380	-17.1%+4.5% nominal
31	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$62,960	$44,700 – $96,120	-17.1%+4.4% nominal
32	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$78,760	$32,220 – $149,590	-16.6%+5.0% nominal
33	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,610	$57,740 – $134,260	-16.6%+5.1% nominal
34	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$129,280	$77,540 – $216,650	-16.5%+5.2% nominal
35	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$68,450	$46,530 – $107,470	-16.2%+5.6% nominal
36	Demonstrators and Product PromotersNo formal educational credential	$36,420	$32,220 – $44,980	-16.1%+5.6% nominal
37	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$64,290	$54,330 – $76,360	-15.9%+5.8% nominal
38	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$142,990	$114,480 – $181,010	-15.5%+6.4% nominal
39	Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$85,040	$56,820 – $136,080	-15.4%+6.6% nominal
40	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$82,200	$63,040 – $108,230	-15.1%+6.9% nominal
41	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$137,440	$103,030 – $188,060	-15.0%+7.0% nominal
42	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$133,210	$105,990 – $164,610	-15.0%+7.0% nominal
43	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$104,660	$74,640 – $169,220	-15.0%+7.0% nominal
44	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,010	$43,680 – $121,490	-14.9%+7.2% nominal
45	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$61,410	$44,730 – $105,920	-14.8%+7.3% nominal
46	Management AnalystsBachelor's degree	$105,820	$56,820 – $175,670	-14.7%+7.4% nominal
47	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$103,410	$78,690 – $159,230	-14.5%+7.7% nominal
48	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$88,190	$49,900 – $145,010	-14.4%+7.8% nominal
49	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$36,150	$32,220 – $92,090	-14.3%+7.9% nominal
50	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,870	$34,620 – $104,000	-14.3%+7.9% 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 lost the most to inflation in New Jersey

More for New Jersey

Metro areas in New Jersey

By field in New Jersey

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state