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What does a Surgical Assistants 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 Surgical Assistants earning $90,710 in New Jersey has the equivalent purchasing power of $83,373 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) | $44,770 | $41,148 | $-3,621 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $64,140 | $58,952 | $-5,187 |
| Median (P50) | $90,710 | $83,373 | $-7,336 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $143,490 | $131,884 | $-11,605 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $146,780 | $134,908 | $-11,871 |
While $90,710 sounds high, New Jersey's elevated cost of living erases 8% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $83,373. 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 Surgical Assistants 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 $90,710 median salary translates to $83,373 in real terms — a 8.1% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Surgical Assistants.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Surgical Assistants, New Jersey places #10 of 44 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Surgical Assistants salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
New Jersey ranks #10 out of 44 states for Surgical Assistants after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Surgical Assistants take-home pay in New Jersey after taxes →
A Surgical Assistants in New Jersey earns a median salary of $90,710 per year. After adjusting for New Jersey's cost of living (RPP=108.8), the real purchasing power is $83,373 — 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 Surgical Assistants in New Jersey: $90,710 x (100 / 108.8) = $83,373. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Surgical Assistants's nominal salary of $90,710 in New Jersey has 8.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $83,373. However, New Jersey may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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