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What does a Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education 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 Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education earning $48,220 in New Jersey has the equivalent purchasing power of $44,319 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) | $37,020 | $34,025 | $-2,994 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $39,030 | $35,873 | $-3,156 |
| Median (P50) | $48,220 | $44,319 | $-3,900 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $64,370 | $59,163 | $-5,206 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $86,910 | $79,880 | $-7,029 |
While $48,220 sounds high, New Jersey's elevated cost of living erases 8% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $44,319. 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 Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education 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 $48,220 median salary translates to $44,320 in real terms — a 8.1% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education, New Jersey places #12 of 51 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
New Jersey ranks #12 out of 51 states for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education take-home pay in New Jersey after taxes →
A Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in New Jersey earns a median salary of $48,220 per year. After adjusting for New Jersey's cost of living (RPP=108.8), the real purchasing power is $44,319 — 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 Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in New Jersey: $48,220 x (100 / 108.8) = $44,319. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education's nominal salary of $48,220 in New Jersey has 8.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $44,319. However, New Jersey may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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