New Jersey's mean registered nurse salary of $110,100 places it above Connecticut ($105,250), Maryland ($99,010), and Pennsylvania ($94,020), but below Massachusetts ($117,960) and New York ($113,440). For most hiring situations in New Jersey, your offers will be competitive within the region without needing to match the top-paying states. If you are recruiting candidates who are also considering New York or Massachusetts roles, be prepared to justify the gap with other elements of your total compensation package.
Registered nurse salary in New Jersey (2026)
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The average registered nurse salary in New Jersey is $110,100 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $106,500 gives you a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. New Jersey employs 92,680 registered nurses, and the $3,600 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior registered nurses in New Jersey typically earn around $83,060, while senior specialists reach and exceed $135,170. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a registered nurse hire in New Jersey, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $106,500 |
Average Annual Salary | $110,100 |
vs. National Average | 8.6% above the national mean of $101,420 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 92,680 employed registered nurses across New Jersey.
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Registered nurse salary percentiles in New Jersey
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $83,060 |
25th Percentile | $99,710 |
75th Percentile | $127,730 |
90th Percentile | $135,170 |
When setting an offer for a registered nurse in New Jersey, the 25th percentile of $99,710 marks the floor for candidates with limited experience, while senior specialists in the role typically reach $135,170 or beyond. Offers below $99,710 will face resistance in most markets across the state, so use the $99,710 to $127,730 band as your core budgeting range for mid-level hires.
Registered nurse salary by city in New Jersey
City | Average Annual Salary |
Newark | $119,600 |
Trenton | $103,700 |
Camden | $101,400 |
Atlantic City | $100,040 |
Employers hiring registered nurses in Newark should budget meaningfully more than those hiring in other parts of New Jersey. The Newark metro average of $119,600 sits $19,560 above the Atlantic City average of $100,040, which means location alone can shift your compensation anchor by nearly 20%. If you are recruiting across multiple New Jersey markets, build location-based pay bands rather than applying a single statewide figure.
How New Jersey compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
New Jersey | $110,100 | $106,500 |
Massachusetts | $117,960 | $104,550 |
New York | $113,440 | $109,440 |
Connecticut | $105,250 | $102,740 |
Maryland | $99,010 | $99,790 |
Pennsylvania | $94,020 | $96,430 |
New Jersey sits in the middle of the Northeast compensation band for registered nurses, which means your offers will be competitive against Connecticut, Maryland, and Pennsylvania but will face pressure from candidates who have options in Massachusetts or New York. The New Jersey mean of $110,100 trails Massachusetts by $7,860 and New York by $3,340, so candidates with cross-state mobility may weigh those markets. Anchoring offers closer to the $106,500 median keeps budgets grounded while remaining above the Pennsylvania and Maryland benchmarks.
Frequently asked questions about registered nurse salary in New Jersey
How does New Jersey compare to other states for registered nurse salary?
What do the top-earning registered nurses make in New Jersey?
Registered nurses at the 90th percentile in New Jersey earn $135,170 per year. The statewide mean of $110,100 sits well below that threshold, so the top-earner tier represents a distinct segment of highly specialized or senior roles rather than a broad market norm. When competing for candidates in that tier, expect to anchor offers at or above $127,730, which marks the 75th percentile.
What is the salary range for a registered nurse in New Jersey?
The published salary range for registered nurses in New Jersey runs from $83,060 at the 10th percentile to $135,170 at the 90th percentile. For most mid-level hires, the practical budgeting range sits between $99,710 and $127,730, which covers the 25th through 75th percentiles. Use the full $83,060 to $135,170 span only when your role sits at a clear experience extreme on either end.
What is the average registered nurse salary in New Jersey?
The average registered nurse salary in New Jersey is $110,100 per year, which is 8.6% above the national mean of $101,420. The median of $106,500 is a more grounded figure for offer-setting, since it is less affected by the small share of very high earners in the state. For most hiring decisions, use $106,500 as your baseline and adjust upward based on the seniority and specialization of the specific role.
Registered Nurse salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1141 (Registered Nurses).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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The Rippling Team
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