Computer Programmers Salary
Computer Programmers in New Jersey make a median of $104,940 a year, or about $50.45 an hour. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $173K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $105,637 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 32% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $105K actually covers in New Jersey, month by month
About computer programmers
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What this looks like in New Jersey
Computer programmers pay in New Jersey tracks closely to the national median, $105K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $2,067/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level computer programmers (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $105K. Top earners bring in $173K or more, a $108K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Programmers salary by metro in New Jersey
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton | $111K | +6% | 220 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton | $88K | -16% | 50 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a computer programmer afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $105K, rent takes 31.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer programmers in New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer programmers typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,335/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 48% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is computer programmer a high-paying job in New Jersey?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $105K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for computer programmers?
New Jersey pays $105K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $106K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do computer programmers make in New Jersey?
The median is $104,940 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,000, and experienced computer programmers can clear $172,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $105K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,471/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 31.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a computer programmers salary go in New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median computer programmers salary is worth about $105,637 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do computer programmers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.