What does a Environmental Engineers 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 Environmental Engineers earning $98,980 in New Jersey has the equivalent purchasing power of $90,974 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) | $69,900 | $64,246 | $-5,653 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $78,480 | $72,132 | $-6,347 |
| Median (P50) | $98,980 | $90,974 | $-8,005 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $127,020 | $116,746 | $-10,273 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $171,120 | $157,279 | $-13,840 |
While $98,980 sounds high, New Jersey's elevated cost of living erases 8% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $90,974. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Environmental Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
New Jersey ranks #44 out of 50 states for Environmental Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Environmental Engineers in New Jersey earns a median salary of $98,980 per year. After adjusting for New Jersey's cost of living (RPP=108.8), the real purchasing power is $90,974 — 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 Engineers in New Jersey: $98,980 x (100 / 108.8) = $90,974. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Environmental Engineers's nominal salary of $98,980 in New Jersey has 8.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $90,974. However, New Jersey may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.