How Much Does an RN Make in New Jersey in 2026?

A typical RN in New Jersey earns about $51.20 per hour ($106,500 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Broken down further, that works out to about $8,875 a month, or $2,048 a week, when calculated from the annual figure. These figures describe pay across hospitals, clinics, and other settings statewide. They show what a nursing career in New Jersey pays today.

New Jersey's typical RN pay sits 9% above the national figure of $97,550 a year, and the state ranks 7th out of 51 states and territories for RN pay. About 92,680 RNs work across New Jersey, a workforce large enough to reflect pay patterns across the state's hospitals and health systems. That combination of higher pay and a sizable workforce puts New Jersey among the better-paying states for the profession.

Entry-level positions in New Jersey typically offer around $39.93 an hour ($83,060 a year) for RNs just starting out. Pay tends to move toward the typical figure of $106,500 a year within the first few years on the job. New graduates in hospital settings often see faster increases than those in smaller clinics. Location and the type of employer both play a role in how quickly pay grows.

Experienced RNs in New Jersey often earn upwards of $61.41 an hour ($127,730 a year), and the top 10% of earners make over $64.99 an hour ($135,170 a year). That leaves a spread of $52,110 between entry-level and top pay. Setting, experience, and the city where an RN works all play into where someone lands in that range.

New Jersey RN pay rose from $79,230 in 2015 to $106,500 in 2025, a gain of $27,270, a 34% increase over the decade. The rise was not steady: pay jumped notably between 2020 and 2022, then continued climbing through 2025. Nurses working in New Jersey today earn substantially more than they did ten years ago.

Nationally, RN pay rose 45% over the same decade, a faster pace than New Jersey's 34% gain. That means New Jersey's pay growth has trailed the country as a whole, even though the state's typical pay remains higher in dollar terms. For someone starting an RN career in New Jersey now, pay has moved up substantially over the past ten years. There's no guarantee that pace continues, but the recent trend has been upward.

Pay runs highest in the Newark metro area, where RNs typically earn $119,720 a year ($57.56 an hour), about 12% above the statewide figure. Jersey City, part of the same metro area, reports identical pay. Vineland and the Bethlehem-Easton metro area also pay above $100,000 a year, though below Newark's level. These figures reflect entire metro areas rather than single cities.

At the other end, the Hammonton area pays the least, with RNs typically earning $99,320 a year ($47.75 an hour). That's a spread of $20,400 between the highest- and lowest-paying areas in the state. Newark also has the largest RN workforce in New Jersey, with 197,740 RNs employed there. Higher pay in areas like Newark and Jersey City generally tracks higher living costs in those metro areas.

New Jersey pays RNs more than two of its three neighbors. New York's typical RN pay is $109,440 a year, 3% above New Jersey's figure, while Pennsylvania pays $96,430 a year, 9% lower, and Delaware pays $99,520 a year, 7% lower. An active RN license in New Jersey can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, making it easier to compare offers across the region.

RNs in New Jersey typically earn $106,500 a year ($51.20 an hour) as of May 2025, up 34% over the past decade. Pay varies by city and experience level, from entry-level positions near $83,060 to top earners above $135,170. Readers considering a nursing career in New Jersey can check the state board of nursing's licensing page for requirements, and the city-level pages on this site for local pay figures.