SOC 19-2099 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Physical Scientists, All Other — New Jersey
New Jersey · 2 metro areas compared
In New Jersey the median wage is $109,990.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In New Jersey the median wage is $109,990. That is 10.3% lower than the national median of $122,570. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $88,480 and $133,870. The lowest tenth earn under $57,630, while the highest tenth earn more than $182,920.
The area has 590 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.96 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 39 states with published data for this occupation, New Jersey ranks 25th by median wage. Trenton leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $117,840. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 122nd of 736 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $57,630 | −53.0% |
| 25th | $88,480 | −27.8% |
| Median (50th) | $109,990 | −10.3% |
| 75th | $133,870 | +9.2% |
| 90th | $182,920 | +49.2% |
| Mean | $117,520 | −4.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in New Jersey
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trenton | $117,840 | 100 | |
| 2 | Atlantic City | $113,800 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New Jersey run 8.8% above the national average, so the median of $109,990 buys what $101,094 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 17.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$109,990as reported by BLSLocal price level
108.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$101,094US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $109,990 a year, 10.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $57,630 to $182,920 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 590 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 25th of 39 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Trenton, at $117,840.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Physical Scientists, All Other in New Jersey?
The median annual wage is $109,990, or $52.88 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $122,570, so pay in New Jersey is 10.3% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in New Jersey earns more than $182,920 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $57,630 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Trenton, at $117,840 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 590 jobs in this occupation in New Jersey. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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