New Jersey Jobs and Wages
Wages, unemployment, minimum wage, benefits, visa filings and federal openings for New Jersey from BLS, the Department of Labor and USAJOBS.
- Median wage
- $58,570 a year
- May 2025
- Unemployment rate
- 4.2%
- Sep 2026
- Minimum wage
- $15.92/hr
- State law
- Average weekly jobless benefit
- $619
- Sep 2026
Highest paying jobs in New Jersey
Occupations with at least 100 jobs
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| # | Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Surgeons, All Other | 680 | $437,890 | $503,070 |
| 2 | Physicians, Pathologists | 230 | $355,970 | $298,760 |
| 3 | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | 420 | $341,430 | $347,890 |
| 4 | Emergency Medicine Physicians | 500 | $315,340 | $262,080 |
| 5 | Chief Executives | 2,430 | $310,440 | $372,910 |
| 6 | Family Medicine Physicians | 3,050 | $292,170 | $291,470 |
| 7 | Physicians, All Other | 9,730 | $285,010 | $260,100 |
| 8 | Athletes and Sports Competitors | 390 | $253,870 | $241,760 |
Most common jobs in New Jersey
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| # | Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 117,080 | $37,090 | $39,690 |
| 2 | Cashiers | 107,680 | $34,590 | $36,370 |
| 3 | Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 97,230 | $39,540 | $42,540 |
| 4 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | 93,730 | $34,150 | $35,110 |
| 5 | Registered Nurses | 92,680 | $106,500 | $110,100 |
| 6 | Retail Salespersons | 72,530 | $36,520 | $41,870 |
| 7 | Packers and Packagers, Hand | 71,260 | $43,840 | $41,750 |
| 8 | Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 67,660 | $37,630 | $40,710 |
Wages by metro area
Visa filings for jobs in this state
Employer filings with the Department of Labor
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)18,450 certified, median offer $126,000
- PERM (FY 2026 through Q3)5,271 certified, median offer $120,000
Top H-1B employers in New Jersey
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| # | Employer | Certified | Median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cognizant Technology Solutions US Corp | 594 | $126,818 |
| 2 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 506 | $171,300 |
| 3 | Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | 451 | $175,009 |
| 4 | Barclays Services Corp. | 369 | $154,000 |
| 5 | Infosys Limited | 235 | $94,682 |
| 6 | Tata Consultancy Services Limited | 199 | $94,682 |
| 7 | The Trustees of Princeton University | 173 | $77,000 |
| 8 | Compunnel Software Group, INC | 159 | $110,000 |
More New Jersey labor data
- Unemployment by county4.2% statewide
- Jobs by industry4.38 million jobs, +0.1% in a year
- Minimum wage$15.92 an hour
- Unemployment benefits$619 a week on average
- Union membership14.7% in 2025
- Federal job openings256 open now
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median wage in New Jersey?
- The median wage for all occupations in New Jersey is $58,570 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025).
- What is the unemployment rate in New Jersey?
- New Jersey's unemployment rate was 4.2% in Sep 2026 (seasonally adjusted).
- What is the highest paying job in New Jersey?
- Surgeons, All Other have the highest median wage among occupations with at least 100 jobs in New Jersey: $437,890 a year.