Jobs that pay the biggest premium in New Jersey

Each occupation's median wage in New Jersey compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where New Jersey pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 · vs. national

1Chiropractors$134,990
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,690 – $154,160+70.4%
2General and Operations Managers$173,690
Bachelor's degree
$77,350 – $372,770+64.2%
3Coaches and Scouts$76,700
Bachelor's degree
$39,720 – $121,960+62.1%
4Correctional Officers and Jailers$94,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,410 – $106,570+60.8%
5Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents$96,420
Bachelor's degree
$56,820 – $144,870+54.6%
6Sales and Related Workers, All Other$74,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,520 – $106,890+54.3%
7Opticians, Dispensing$72,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,110 – $85,020+53.3%
8Personal Financial Advisors$158,570
Bachelor's degree
$78,860 – $374,530+50.9%
9Sheet Metal Workers$92,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,290 – $130,630+50.2%
10Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$89,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,760 – $133,330+49.8%
11Solar Photovoltaic Installers$78,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,600 – $102,050+48.6%
12Chief Executives$310,440
Bachelor's degree
$173,560 – $666,030+45.1%
13First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$133,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$105,990 – $164,610+42.4%
14Special Education Teachers, Preschool$92,060
Bachelor's degree
$61,880 – $138,050+42.0%
15Firefighters$84,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,920 – $123,940+41.9%
16Roofers$76,600
No formal educational credential
$45,230 – $103,720+38.2%
17Marriage and Family Therapists$92,150
Master's degree
$62,150 – $110,990+37.7%
18Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$102,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,690 – $115,000+37.3%
19Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$50,680
No formal educational credential
$34,590 – $132,670+36.3%
20Construction Laborers$64,060
No formal educational credential
$37,980 – $106,140+36.0%
21Technical Writers$122,320
Bachelor's degree
$69,400 – $163,390+35.3%
22First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$142,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$114,480 – $181,010+34.8%
23Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$78,770
Bachelor's degree
$49,710 – $144,870+32.8%
24Producers and Directors$119,840
Bachelor's degree
$62,310 – $206,770+32.6%
25First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$105,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,210 – $153,940+32.0%
26Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$105,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$72,760 – $133,790+31.9%
27Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$78,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,050 – $99,240+31.2%
28Insurance Sales Agents$81,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,330 – $169,770+31.1%
29Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$137,440
Master's degree
$103,030 – $188,060+29.8%
30Protective Service Workers, All Other$54,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,280 – $80,330+29.2%
31Therapists, All Other$100,250
Bachelor's degree
$64,750 – $172,230+28.6%
32Bartenders$44,020
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $80,480+28.2%
33Child, Family, and School Social Workers$76,280
Bachelor's degree
$47,830 – $109,420+28.1%
34Waiters and Waitresses$44,960
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $78,510+27.6%
35Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$59,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,620 – $104,000+27.0%
36Administrative Services Managers$144,460
Bachelor's degree
$94,200 – $227,410+26.6%
37Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$54,260
Bachelor's degree
$35,940 – $81,120+26.5%
38Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$48,220
Associate's degree
$37,020 – $86,910+26.4%
39Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$83,770
Bachelor's degree
$62,210 – $106,540+26.4%
40Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$127,090
Doctoral or professional degree
$57,180 – $224,050+26.4%
41Education Administrators, Postsecondary$131,570
Master's degree
$84,060 – $224,550+25.8%
42Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$131,360
Bachelor's degree
$73,860 – $226,420+25.2%
43Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$129,280
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,540 – $216,650+25.0%
44Instructional Coordinators$96,090
Master's degree
$61,050 – $121,880+24.1%
45Labor Relations Specialists$118,370
Bachelor's degree
$73,150 – $167,350+24.1%
46Bus Drivers, School$59,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,640 – $71,520+24.0%
47Detectives and Criminal Investigators$116,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,100 – $165,570+24.0%
48Compliance Officers$100,000
Bachelor's degree
$58,860 – $158,540+23.9%
49Natural Sciences Managers$207,030
Bachelor's degree
$136,840 – $317,420+23.8%
50Veterinarians$160,140
Doctoral or professional degree
$103,720 – $274,850+23.1%

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	vs. national
1	ChiropractorsDoctoral or professional degree	$134,990	$78,690 – $154,160	+70.4%
2	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$173,690	$77,350 – $372,770	+64.2%
3	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$76,700	$39,720 – $121,960	+62.1%
4	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,770	$51,410 – $106,570	+60.8%
5	Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue AgentsBachelor's degree	$96,420	$56,820 – $144,870	+54.6%
6	Sales and Related Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,520	$39,520 – $106,890	+54.3%
7	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,460	$47,110 – $85,020	+53.3%
8	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$158,570	$78,860 – $374,530	+50.9%
9	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,840	$46,290 – $130,630	+50.2%
10	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,660	$50,760 – $133,330	+49.8%
11	Solar Photovoltaic InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,950	$47,600 – $102,050	+48.6%
12	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$310,440	$173,560 – $666,030	+45.1%
13	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$133,210	$105,990 – $164,610	+42.4%
14	Special Education Teachers, PreschoolBachelor's degree	$92,060	$61,880 – $138,050	+42.0%
15	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$84,130	$47,920 – $123,940	+41.9%
16	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$76,600	$45,230 – $103,720	+38.2%
17	Marriage and Family TherapistsMaster's degree	$92,150	$62,150 – $110,990	+37.7%
18	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,090	$58,690 – $115,000	+37.3%
19	Motor Vehicle Operators, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$50,680	$34,590 – $132,670	+36.3%
20	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$64,060	$37,980 – $106,140	+36.0%
21	Technical WritersBachelor's degree	$122,320	$69,400 – $163,390	+35.3%
22	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$142,990	$114,480 – $181,010	+34.8%
23	Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and DaycareBachelor's degree	$78,770	$49,710 – $144,870	+32.8%
24	Producers and DirectorsBachelor's degree	$119,840	$62,310 – $206,770	+32.6%
25	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,510	$63,210 – $153,940	+32.0%
26	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$105,370	$72,760 – $133,790	+31.9%
27	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,760	$51,050 – $99,240	+31.2%
28	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,640	$49,330 – $169,770	+31.1%
29	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$137,440	$103,030 – $188,060	+29.8%
30	Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,950	$33,280 – $80,330	+29.2%
31	Therapists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$100,250	$64,750 – $172,230	+28.6%
32	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$44,020	$32,220 – $80,480	+28.2%
33	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$76,280	$47,830 – $109,420	+28.1%
34	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$44,960	$32,220 – $78,510	+27.6%
35	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,870	$34,620 – $104,000	+27.0%
36	Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$144,460	$94,200 – $227,410	+26.6%
37	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$54,260	$35,940 – $81,120	+26.5%
38	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$48,220	$37,020 – $86,910	+26.4%
39	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$83,770	$62,210 – $106,540	+26.4%
40	Clinical and Counseling PsychologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$127,090	$57,180 – $224,050	+26.4%
41	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$131,570	$84,060 – $224,550	+25.8%
42	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$131,360	$73,860 – $226,420	+25.2%
43	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$129,280	$77,540 – $216,650	+25.0%
44	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$96,090	$61,050 – $121,880	+24.1%
45	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$118,370	$73,150 – $167,350	+24.1%
46	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,430	$46,640 – $71,520	+24.0%
47	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$116,300	$73,100 – $165,570	+24.0%
48	Compliance OfficersBachelor's degree	$100,000	$58,860 – $158,540	+23.9%
49	Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree	$207,030	$136,840 – $317,420	+23.8%
50	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$160,140	$103,720 – $274,850	+23.1%

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 pay the biggest premium in New Jersey

More for New Jersey

Metro areas in New Jersey

By field in New Jersey

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state