This week is National Nurses Week, SmartAsset’s newest study ranks New Jersey No. 14 in the U.S. for Registered Nurse (RN) pay. We adjusted the latest release of Bureau of Labor Statistics data on state nursing income medians for cost-of-living differences to allow cross-state comparisons of nursing earnings. Key findings:
- The median salary for a Registered Nurse (RN) in New Jersey is $102,730 (a national equivalent of $94,421 adjusted for local cost-of-living), making New Jersey No. 14 in the U.S. for RN pay. Statewide, there’s about 10 RNs for every 1000 residents.
- Licensed Practical Nurses in New Jersey earn an adjusted median income of $65,423, and Nursing Assistants $41,278.
- Nationally, California pays RNs the best, even after adjusting for that state’s higher cost of living. Nurses are paid the least in South Dakota.
See more data, and how New Jersey compares nationally: https://smartasset.com/data-studies/where-it-pays-to-be-in-nursing-2026-study