What it costs to live and work in New Jersey: the minimum wage, state income tax, sales tax and median rent, from official sources, and what they mean for your monthly budget.
| New Jersey | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | $15.92 an hour | US Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws (updated July 1, 2026) |
| State income tax | 1.4 % to 10.75 % | Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 |
| State sales tax | 6.625 % | Tax Foundation, State and Local Sales Tax Rates, Midyear 2026 (as of July 1, 2026) |
| Median gross rent | $1,800 a month (2024) | US Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year estimates, table B25064 Median Gross Rent |
New Jersey's minimum wage is $15.92 an hour in 2026 ($15.23 for employers with fewer than six employees and seasonal workers), adjusted every year.
New Jersey has graduated rates from 1.4 % to 10.75 %; the top rate applies to single filers above $1,000,000.
The state sales tax is 6.625 %; there are almost no local sales taxes (Salem County and urban enterprise zones collect less).
What income does rent in New Jersey take?
A common rule of thumb is to keep rent at or below 30 % of gross income. At the median rent of $1,800 a month, that means a household income of about $72,000 a year before tax.
Sources
- US Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws (updated July 1, 2026) (2026-07-01)
- Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 (2026-02-19)
- Tax Foundation, State and Local Sales Tax Rates, Midyear 2026 (as of July 1, 2026) (2026-07-06)
- US Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year estimates, table B25064 Median Gross Rent (2025-09)
- NJ Department of Labor, Rate information, contributions and due dates (2026)