New Jersey has a state income tax rate of up to 10.75%. The highest paying profession in New Jersey is Surgeon at $450,850/year. Select any profession below for a full city, experience and take-home pay breakdown.
The table below shows median annual salaries for 50+ professions in New Jersey, ranked from highest to lowest. All figures are sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024 release, refreshed for 2026. Click any profession for a full breakdown including city-level data, experience levels and a take-home pay calculator.
| Profession | Category | Annual Median | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surgeon | Healthcare | $450,850 | $216.75 |
| Pilot | Transport | $255,550 | $122.86 |
| Software Developer | Technology | $169,300 | $81.39 |
| Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $166,450 | $80.02 |
| Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $158,700 | $76.30 |
| Financial Advisor | Finance | $127,450 | $61.27 |
| Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $125,100 | $60.14 |
| Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $123,400 | $59.33 |
| Network Administrator | Technology | $118,800 | $57.12 |
| Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $104,200 | $50.10 |
| Accountant | Finance | $102,250 | $49.16 |
| Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $99,350 | $47.76 |
| Respiratory Therapist | Healthcare | $89,250 | $42.91 |
| Police Officer | Public Safety | $88,500 | $42.55 |
| Radiologic Technologist | Healthcare | $88,200 | $42.40 |
| Plumber | Trades | $81,350 | $39.11 |
| School Counselor | Education | $81,150 | $39.01 |
| Teacher | Education | $79,150 | $38.05 |
| Electrician | Trades | $78,850 | $37.91 |
| Librarian | Education | $78,300 | $37.64 |
| Court Reporter | Legal | $78,150 | $37.57 |
| Paralegal | Legal | $75,800 | $36.44 |
| HVAC Technician | Trades | $73,350 | $35.26 |
| Real Estate Agent | Business | $72,450 | $34.83 |
| Firefighter | Public Safety | $72,100 | $34.66 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | Trades | $72,000 | $34.62 |
| Truck Driver | Transport | $69,550 | $33.44 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Healthcare | $69,400 | $33.37 |
| Carpenter | Trades | $68,400 | $32.88 |
| Correctional Officer | Public Safety | $67,650 | $32.52 |
| Social Worker | Social Services | $66,250 | $31.85 |
| Mason | Trades | $64,500 | $31.01 |
| Roofer | Trades | $64,050 | $30.79 |
| Paramedic | Public Safety | $63,850 | $30.70 |
| Solar Installer | Trades | $61,300 | $29.47 |
| Bookkeeper | Business | $60,550 | $29.11 |
| Welder | Trades | $60,150 | $28.92 |
| Dispatcher | Transport | $60,000 | $28.85 |
| Painter | Trades | $59,950 | $28.82 |
| Bus Driver | Transport | $58,550 | $28.15 |
| Delivery Driver | Transport | $54,800 | $26.35 |
| Dental Assistant | Healthcare | $54,800 | $26.35 |
| Medical Assistant | Healthcare | $52,100 | $25.05 |
| Pharmacy Technician | Healthcare | $51,600 | $24.81 |
| EMT | Public Safety | $49,700 | $23.89 |
| Veterinary Technician | Healthcare | $49,700 | $23.89 |
| Cosmetologist | Personal Services | $42,800 | $20.58 |
| Teaching Assistant | Education | $40,250 | $19.35 |