The Trenton-Princeton, NJ metropolitan statistical area, as BLS defines it.
Pay data · metro area
Average Salary in Trenton, NJ (2026)
The average salary in the Trenton metro area is $82,560 a year and the median is $63,490: 25% above the US median and 8% above New Jersey's (BLS, May 2025). At national-average prices the median is worth $61,530, 10th of 387 metro areas.
- Average (mean) salary
- $82,560US $69,770
- Median salary
- $63,490US $50,980
- Median hourly
- $30.52BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Price level
- 103.2US = 100 · BEA 2024
The spread
What workers in Trenton earn
| Percentile | Trenton area | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,100 | $34,450 | $31,200 |
| 25th | $43,300 | $39,400 | $37,590 |
| 50th (median) | $63,490 | $58,570 | $50,980 |
| 75th | $101,630 | $96,720 | $80,520 |
| 90th | $152,950 | $142,750 | $128,560 |
| Mean | $82,560 | $78,040 | $69,770 |
Prices
Cost of living in Trenton
BEA Regional Price Parities put the Trenton area at 103.2 against a US average of 100. Matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $103,180 here. Compare with another city.
US = 100
- All items103.2
- Housing (rents)135.1
- Goods99.8
- Utilities112.3
- Other services97.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| All items | 103.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 135.1 |
| Goods | 99.8 |
| Utilities | 112.3 |
| Other services | 97.9 |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Common jobs
What common jobs pay in Trenton
Mean annual wage in the Trenton area against the national mean for the same occupation (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Occupation | Trenton area | US mean | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $103,710 | $101,420 | +2% |
| Software Developer | $132,620 | $148,100 | -10% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $81,800 | $72,650 | +13% |
| Accountant | $106,180 | $94,750 | +12% |
| Electrician | $94,830 | $71,490 | +33% |
| Truck Driver | $62,300 | $59,710 | +4% |
| Customer Service Representative | $50,730 | $46,590 | +9% |
| Retail Salesperson | $41,180 | $37,310 | +10% |
| Nursing Assistant | $45,530 | $42,700 | +7% |
| General and Operations Manager | $216,150 | $134,940 | +60% |
| Maintenance and Repair Worker, General | $57,240 | $53,780 | +6% |
| Cook, Restaurant | $40,790 | $38,730 | +5% |
The jobs
Best-paying jobs in Trenton
BLS publishes estimates for 426 occupations in this metro. Highest mean pay, and the large occupations this area pays furthest above their national average.
Highest-paying jobs
Mean annual wage
- 1Family Medicine Physician$238,720
- 2General and Operations Manager$216,150
- 3Natural Sciences Manager$210,640
- 4Marketing Manager$206,860
- 5Dentist$205,980
- 6Financial Manager$205,250
- 7IT Manager$202,530
- 8Purchasing Manager$195,400
- 9Architectural and Engineering Manager$195,290
- 10Compensation and Benefits Manager$190,420
Jobs Trenton pays above the national average
Occupations with 100,000+ US workers
- 1General and Operations Manager$216,150 · +60%
- 2Construction Laborer$73,090 · +40%
- 3Coach and Scout$84,130 · +40%
- 4Bus Driver, School$64,310 · +33%
- 5Electrician$94,830 · +33%
- 6Roofer$76,630 · +32%
- 7Hairstylist$57,840 · +32%
- 8Librarian$92,520 · +27%
- 9Healthcare Social Worker$91,040 · +27%
- 10Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Manager$154,020 · +27%
Compare
Other metro areas in New Jersey
Method
About these numbers
- All-occupations wages for the metro are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 estimates (api.bls.gov). Wage and salary workers only; excludes the self-employed.
- Pay by occupation is the OEWS May 2025 mean for that occupation in this metro, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 prevailing-wage file. Only figures BLS estimated for this metro itself are used, never state or national fallbacks.
- Price levels are BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. Price-adjusted pay is a NueCareer calculation (wage ÷ RPP/100).
Questions
Average salary in Trenton: FAQ
What is the average salary in Trenton?
Across all occupations in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area, the average (mean) annual wage is $82,560 and the median is $63,490, 25% above the US median (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That covers 240,190 wage and salary jobs.
What is a good salary in Trenton?
Above $63,490 out-earns half of workers in the Trenton area; the top 25% start at $101,630 and the top 10% at $152,950. Prices run 3% above the national average (BEA, 2024), so matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $103,180 here.
Is Trenton expensive to live in?
BEA's price level for the Trenton metro is 103.2 (US = 100, 2024). Housing rents are 135.1, goods 99.8, utilities 112.3. At local prices the median wage is worth $61,530, 10th of 387 metros.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Trenton?
By mean annual wage: Family Medicine Physician ($238,720), General and Operations Manager ($216,150), Natural Sciences Manager ($210,640), Marketing Manager ($206,860), Dentist ($205,980) (BLS OEWS May 2025, via the DOL wage file).