Career Atlas USA

Careers in New Jersey

New Jersey’s regional price level is above the national average (index 108.805, where 100 = U.S. average, 2024 BEA data).

Unemployment rate: 4.6% · Labor force participation: 64.3% · 4,741,652 people employed (2026-07, BLS LAUS, not seasonally adjusted).

Highest-Paying Careers

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  1. 1Radiologists$482,700
  2. 2Surgeons, All Other$437,890
  3. 3Physicians, Pathologists$355,970
  4. 4Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric$341,430
  5. 5Emergency Medicine Physicians$315,340

Largest Occupations

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  1. 1Home Health and Personal Care Aides117,080 employed
  2. 2Cashiers107,680 employed
  3. 3Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand97,230 employed
  4. 4Fast Food and Counter Workers93,730 employed
  5. 5Registered Nurses92,680 employed

Highest Concentration

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  1. 1Therapists, All Other11.36× national avg
  2. 2Packers and Packagers, Hand4.62× national avg
  3. 3Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants3.93× national avg
  4. 4Word Processors and Typists3.69× national avg
  5. 5Fire Inspectors and Investigators3.39× national avg

Best Purchasing Power

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cost-of-living adjusted

  1. 1Radiologists$443,638
  2. 2Surgeons, All Other$402,454
  3. 3Physicians, Pathologists$327,163
  4. 4Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric$313,800
  5. 5Emergency Medicine Physicians$289,821

Strongest Opportunity Score

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  1. 1Labor Relations Specialists97.4 / 100
  2. 2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives94.7 / 100
  3. 3Packers and Packagers, Hand94.1 / 100
  4. 4Sales and Related Workers, All Other93.1 / 100
  5. 5Computer and Information Systems Managers93.1 / 100

Sources

Wage and employment data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities. Unemployment rate: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Opportunity Score is a Career Atlas USA calculation — see methodology.