What does a Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health 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 2026-04-06
New Jersey's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 108.8, meaning prices are 8.8% higher the national average. A Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health earning $81,020 in New Jersey has the equivalent purchasing power of $74,466 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) | $48,530 | $44,604 | $-3,925 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $60,390 | $55,505 | $-4,884 |
| Median (P50) | $81,020 | $74,466 | $-6,553 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $100,310 | $92,196 | $-8,113 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $133,290 | $122,509 | $-10,780 |
While $81,020 sounds high, New Jersey's elevated cost of living erases 8% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $74,466. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
New Jersey ranks #31 out of 51 states for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
How much do you actually take home? See Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health take-home pay in New Jersey after taxes →
A Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in New Jersey earns a median salary of $81,020 per year. After adjusting for New Jersey's cost of living (RPP=108.8), the real purchasing power is $74,466 — 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 Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in New Jersey: $81,020 x (100 / 108.8) = $74,466. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health's nominal salary of $81,020 in New Jersey has 8.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $74,466. However, New Jersey may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.