If you are a registered nurse (RN) in New Jersey and want to know the latest information about income, employment, job projections, and more, you have come to the right place.
This resource provides publicly available information about average RN wages in New Jersey. While Nursa currently offers independent contractor RNs in New Jersey the opportunity to access per diem jobs that pay on an hourly basis rather than access to salaried or wage-based employment opportunities, this information may be a helpful frame of reference for you as you assess the market landscape both in regard to per diem jobs and employment opportunities.
This state welcomes RNs and offers them exciting projections. From 2021 to 2030, RN jobs in New Jersey are projected to grow by 8.6 percent—2.6 percent more than the national average. Consequently, NJ is expected to have 5,240 new registered nurse jobs per year.
What's the Average RN Salary in the State of New Jersey?
The mean annual registered nurse wage in New Jersey is $96,670, or $46.48 per hour, whereas the national average is $89,010 annually. Therefore, NJ has an average RN income that is 8.6 percent higher than the national average.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average registered nurse pay in New Jersey typically ranges between $76,650 and $118,150 depending on locations and area of specialty—among other factors. To have a better idea of what your income could be, in the following list, you will find the whole range of RN wages in NJ:
- 10th percentile: $76,650
- 25th percentile: $82,180
- 50th percentile: $98,090
- 75th percentile: $105,150
- 90th percentile: $118,150
These percentiles indicate RNs earning less than the amount shown in every group. For example, 10 percent earn less than $76,650. Therefore, 90 percent earn more.
How Much Do Nurses Make in New Jersey?
We already talked about what RN wages to expect in NJ on average. Now, let’s see how registered nurse pay varies in different cities.
Read on to find whether an RN income in Jersey City is higher than in Trenton or Ocean City, and decide where you want to look for RN jobs by knowing which cities offer the highest pay. In the following chart, you will discover the different RN wages in New Jersey:
Source: Chart based on information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (Most recent information as of August 2023)
Which Are the Highest-Paying Cities for RNs in New Jersey?
As we can see in the information above, Newark and Jersey City are the highest-paying cities for RNs in New Jersey, with an annual income of $104,860. The next highest-paying cities are Trenton, with a mean annual wage of $91,570, and Atlantic City and Hammonton, with a mean wage of $88,520 per year.
RN Employment in New Jersey by Area
Knowing how much you can earn in New Jersey may help you choose the best option when considering independent contractor work or applying for salaried or wage-based employment. Registered nurses in New Jersey also work alongside other healthcare professionals, including licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs).
Aside from being the metropolitan area with the highest RN salaries in NJ, New York-Newark-Jersey City has the highest employment level nationwide. Hence, if you are looking for per diem jobs in Edison or PRN jobs in Jersey City, you have excellent chances of finding one. Don’t know what per diem and PRN mean? Continue reading to find out.
Knowing how much you can earn as an RN in NJ is important, but it doesn’t give you the entire picture. In the following chart, you will find the employment level by metropolitan area so you can know where there are more job opportunities:
Source: Chart based on information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (Most recent information as of August 2023)
RN employment is straightforward, but location quotient (LQ) may need some clarification. This indicator shows the concentration of an occupation in an area compared to the national concentration. An LQ above one means the area has a higher concentration of the occupation than the national average, and an LQ below one indicates a lower concentration.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City metropolitan area, including Flemington, Morristown, Newton, Somerset, and Toms River, is the region with the highest RN job concentration in the nation. Therefore, this metropolitan area offers many opportunities for professional growth.
How Can I Find Per Diem RN Independent Contractor Jobs?
Registered nurses in New Jersey find more jobs in hospitals than in any other setting; 47 percent of RNs in NJ work in hospitals, 10 percent in ambulatory care, and 9 percent in nursing homes/extended care.
There are various ways to look for RN jobs near you, but the easiest is through the Internet. Nowadays, technology is transforming our lives, giving us the chance to be a click away from the jobs of our dreams.
You already know how much the average RN income in New Jersey is per hour, but there is a way to earn more money than average. If you find jobs with Nursa, you can pick up shifts that not only give you extra income but also improve your work-life balance.
With Nursa, you can choose your desired job and when you want to work. This open market offers fixed-time jobs or per diem jobs. Per diem means “per day,” so this type of job lasts only what the shift does.
Working per diem RN jobs in New Jersey is an excellent option for earning extra money when needed; this type of work could also be your main source of income.
The following list will open the door to Nursa and countless per diem job opportunities that are waiting for you in different cities of New Jersey:
Learn More about Working in New Jersey as a Nurse Here
How Can I Become an RN in New Jersey?
To become a registered nurse in New Jersey, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). There are plenty of RN programs in NJ, and you can choose the kind of program you would like to follow: an associate, bachelor, or diploma-level program. Please keep in mind that some exceptions may apply.
You need to know that New Jersey’s nursing schools have a large number of applicants for this career, so you may want to apply to more than one school. Also, bear in mind that some nursing schools put qualified applicants on a 12-month waiting list.
You may need to pass some courses before going to nursing school, and a Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) may also be considered for admission.
In the following list, you will find some colleges that offer Associate's Degrees in Nursing (ADNs) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees:
- Cumberland County College
- Atlantic Cape Community
- Bergen Community College
- St. Peter’s College
- New Jersey City University
How to Make More Money as a Nurse in New Jersey
Are you considering continuing your studies? The following chart shows the average salaries of advanced practice registered nurses in NJ:
Source: Chart based on information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (Most recent information as of August 2023)
Now, you can choose which path to take to maximize your nurse income in NJ. Whether you continue your studies or move to another city in New Jersey, you know what nurse pay to expect. Find high-paying RN jobs today.
