What does a Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical 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 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earning $80,440 in New Jersey has the equivalent purchasing power of $73,933 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) | $62,160 | $57,132 | $-5,027 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $73,140 | $67,224 | $-5,915 |
| Median (P50) | $80,440 | $73,933 | $-6,506 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $98,950 | $90,946 | $-8,003 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $104,920 | $96,433 | $-8,486 |
While $80,440 sounds high, New Jersey's elevated cost of living erases 8% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $73,933. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
New Jersey ranks #14 out of 50 states for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in New Jersey earns a median salary of $80,440 per year. After adjusting for New Jersey's cost of living (RPP=108.8), the real purchasing power is $73,933 — 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 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in New Jersey: $80,440 x (100 / 108.8) = $73,933. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education's nominal salary of $80,440 in New Jersey has 8.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $73,933. However, New Jersey may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.