What does a Chef salary really buy you in New Jersey?
New Jersey is 8.8% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
New Jersey's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 108.8, meaning prices are 8.8% higher the national average. A Chef earning $69,660 in New Jersey has the equivalent purchasing power of $64,025 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) | $53,250 | $48,943 | $-4,306 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $62,400 | $57,352 | $-5,047 |
| Median (P50) | $69,660 | $64,025 | $-5,634 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $83,240 | $76,507 | $-6,732 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $99,510 | $91,461 | $-8,048 |
While $69,660 sounds high, New Jersey's elevated cost of living erases 8% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $64,025. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Chef salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
New Jersey ranks #15 out of 50 states for Chef after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Chef in New Jersey earns a median salary of $69,660 per year. After adjusting for New Jersey's cost of living (RPP=108.8), the real purchasing power is $64,025 — 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 Chef in New Jersey: $69,660 x (100 / 108.8) = $64,025. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Chef's nominal salary of $69,660 in New Jersey has 8.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $64,025. However, New Jersey may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.