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What does a Air Traffic Controllers salary really buy you in New Jersey?
New Jersey is 8.8% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
New Jersey's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 108.8, meaning prices are 8.8% higher the national average. A Air Traffic Controllers earning $132,230 in New Jersey has the equivalent purchasing power of $121,534 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for New Jersey's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $88,460 | $81,305 | $-7,154 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $102,730 | $94,420 | $-8,309 |
| Median (P50) | $132,230 | $121,534 | $-10,695 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $179,400 | $164,889 | $-14,510 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $209,730 | $192,766 | $-16,963 |
While $132,230 sounds high, New Jersey's elevated cost of living erases 8% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $121,534. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
New Jersey's RPP of 108.8 puts it 8.8% above the national baseline cost of living. A Air Traffic Controllers needs that premium in nominal pay just to maintain the same purchasing power as an average-cost state.
After applying New Jersey's RPP, the $132,230 median salary translates to $121,535 in real terms — a 8.1% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Air Traffic Controllers.
New Jersey's rank of #31 of 43 states means real purchasing power for Air Traffic Controllers trails the national half-way line.
Where does Air Traffic Controllers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
New Jersey ranks #31 out of 43 states for Air Traffic Controllers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Air Traffic Controllers take-home pay in New Jersey after taxes →
A Air Traffic Controllers in New Jersey earns a median salary of $132,230 per year. After adjusting for New Jersey's cost of living (RPP=108.8), the real purchasing power is $121,534 — a -8.1% difference.
New Jersey's cost of living is 8.8% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for New Jersey is 108.8 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Air Traffic Controllers in New Jersey: $132,230 x (100 / 108.8) = $121,534. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Air Traffic Controllers's nominal salary of $132,230 in New Jersey has 8.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $121,534. However, New Jersey may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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