Registered nurses in the state of New Jersey earn an average salary of $85,720 per year (or $41.21 per hour) as of May 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 80% of New Jersey RNs earn between $65,070 and $110,510.
On average, RNs in New Jersey earn about 7% more than the national average salary for nurses, at $80,010 (or $38.47 per hour).
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Among other factors, the cost of living in a given region can impact what nurses tend to earn working in those areas. With a Cost of Living Index of 116.8 in 2020, New Jersey nurses face prices for things like food, housing, and transportation that are higher than in other states. When adjusted for this higher cost of living, New Jersey’s nursing salaries are actually somewhat below the national average.
| State | Avg. RN Salary | Avg. RN Salary (adjusted for COL) | Local Estimates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $85,720 | $73,390 | Get Local Estimate |
| Nationwide | $80,010 | - | Get Local Estimate |
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RN salary across New Jersey cities
New Jersey nursing salaries vary quite a bit from region to region across the state. The area where nurses are paid the highest is Newark, thanks to its proximity to the New York City metro area, where the average RN salary is $94,920 and where over 170,000 nurses are currently employed across the entire metro. Atlantic City (average RN salary of $83,900) and the Bridgeton metro area (average RN salary of $82,070) both come in as close 2nd/3rd places.
| Metro Area | RNs Employed | Avg. RN Salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 173,570 | $94,920 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 2,980 | $83,900 |
| Trenton, NJ | 3980 | $83,050 |
| Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ | 1,830 | $82,070 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 70,350 | $79,980 |
| Ocean City, NJ | 680 | $77,280 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 9,720 | $71,110 |
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RN salary vs similar healthcare professions in New Jersey
Overall, “Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations” workers in New Jersey earn an average salary of $96,880, according to the BLS. Here’s how a sample of these other types of healthcare professions compare to RN salaries in the state:
| Profession | # Employed in NJ | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 78,590 | $85,720 |
| LPNs / LVNs | 15,590 | $57,590 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 10,400 | $35,700 |
| Dental Hygienists | 5,820 | $88,150 |
| Physical Therapist | 6,960 | $100,740 |
| Nurse Practitioners | 5,800 | $130,890 |
Job outlook for Registered Nurses in New Jersey
There are about 78,590 registered nurses in the state of New Jersey. Yet, nursing jobs in the state are still projected to increase by at least 11% from 2018 to 2028 – an increase of more than 8,000 new RNs in the state in the coming years.
