Software engineers at the 90th percentile in New Jersey earn $207,200 per year. Senior specialists with deep technical expertise or niche skills regularly reach this level, so employers competing for that tier of talent should budget accordingly. Offers below $170,130, the 75th percentile, are unlikely to attract candidates with substantial senior-level experience.
Software engineer salary in New Jersey (2026)
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The average software engineer salary in New Jersey is $143,800 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $135,940 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. New Jersey employs 51,570 software engineers, and the $7,860 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior engineers in New Jersey typically earn around $84,880, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $207,200 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a software engineer hire, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $135,940 |
Average Annual Salary | $143,800 |
vs. National Average | 2.9% below the national mean of $148,100 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 51,570 employed software engineers across New Jersey.
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Software engineer salary percentiles in New Jersey
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $84,880 |
25th Percentile | $107,020 |
75th Percentile | $170,130 |
90th Percentile | $207,200 |
Employers hiring at the entry level should expect offers in the $84,880 to $107,020 range, while mid-to-senior roles will push well above the $135,940 median toward $170,130 and beyond. Budgeting above $170,130 is appropriate when the role requires deep specialization or significant experience, since senior specialists in New Jersey regularly reach the $207,200 threshold.
Software engineer salary by city in New Jersey
City | Average Annual Salary |
Newark | $165,870 |
Camden | $136,050 |
Trenton | $132,620 |
Atlantic City | $125,080 |
Where you hire within New Jersey has a meaningful impact on your compensation budget. The Newark metro commands an average of $165,870, which is $40,790 above the Atlantic City metro at $125,080, so employers in the northern part of the state should plan for noticeably higher offers than those hiring in southern markets.
How New Jersey compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
New Jersey | $143,800 | $135,940 |
New York | $163,820 | $166,180 |
Massachusetts | $161,730 | $165,210 |
Maryland | $151,560 | $138,680 |
Connecticut | $141,260 | $134,120 |
Pennsylvania | $128,110 | $126,550 |
New Jersey sits in the middle of the regional market, making it a more cost-effective hiring location than New York or Massachusetts but more expensive than Pennsylvania. New York's average of $163,820 and Massachusetts's average of $161,730 both run roughly $18,000 to $20,000 above New Jersey's $143,800, so employers who can hire in New Jersey may find some budget relief compared to those two markets. Connecticut's average of $141,260 is close to New Jersey's, while Pennsylvania's $128,110 offers the most cost-effective option among these comparison states.
Frequently asked questions about software engineer salary in New Jersey
What do the top-earning software engineers make in New Jersey?
Software Engineer salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 15-1252 (Software Developers).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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