What does a Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education 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 Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education earning $69,190 in New Jersey has the equivalent purchasing power of $63,593 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) | $58,140 | $53,437 | $-4,702 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $60,830 | $55,909 | $-4,920 |
| Median (P50) | $69,190 | $63,593 | $-5,596 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $91,150 | $83,777 | $-7,372 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $100,890 | $92,729 | $-8,160 |
While $69,190 sounds high, New Jersey's elevated cost of living erases 8% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $63,593. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
New Jersey ranks #24 out of 50 states for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education in New Jersey earns a median salary of $69,190 per year. After adjusting for New Jersey's cost of living (RPP=108.8), the real purchasing power is $63,593 — 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 Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education in New Jersey: $69,190 x (100 / 108.8) = $63,593. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education's nominal salary of $69,190 in New Jersey has 8.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $63,593. However, New Jersey may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.