Convert your annual salary to hourly, daily, weekly, biweekly, and monthly pay in Jersey City, and compare it to the local minimum wage and MIT living wage for 2026.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: MIT Living Wage Calculator, C2ER, U.S. Census, BLS, IRS, state and city sources
Jersey City minimum wage: $15.49/hour | Living wage: $25.00/hour
Median household income in Jersey City is about $85,000. The applicable minimum wage is $15.49/hour, and the MIT living wage for a single adult is about $25.00/hour. Use the comparisons below to see where a given salary lands.
| Pay Benchmark (Jersey City) | Hourly | Annual (full-time) |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable minimum wage | $15.49 | $32,219 |
| MIT living wage (single adult) | $25.00 | $52,000 |
| Median household income | $40.87 | $85,000 |
| Standard full-time hours | - | 2,080 hours/year |
Jersey City sits on the Hudson River directly across from Lower Manhattan and has become a major financial back-office and residential hub, with Goldman Sachs and other banks, a fast-growing technology scene, and one of the most diverse populations in the country.
| Local Metric | Jersey City (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metro population | 290,000 |
| County / jurisdiction | Hudson County |
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 138 |
| MIT living wage, single adult | $25.00/hour |
| MIT living wage, one earner supporting a family of four | $49.00/hour |
| Applicable minimum wage | $15.49/hour |
| Average rent, 1-bedroom | $2,700/month |
| Average rent, 2-bedroom | $3,200/month |
| Median home price | $600,000 |
| Median household income | $85,000/year |
| Combined sales tax rate | 6.625% |
| Effective property tax rate | 1.6% of value/year |
Local figures are 2026 estimates compiled from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, the C2ER Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census and Zillow housing data, and city and county sources. Verify current figures before relying on them.
Divide your annual salary by your total work hours per year (40 hours/week times 52 weeks is 2,080 hours). For example, a $85,000 salary in Jersey City is about $40.87/hour at full time.
Median household income in Jersey City is around $85,000. Because the cost-of-living index is 138 (US average = 100) and average 1-bedroom rent is $2,700/month, what counts as comfortable depends heavily on housing costs.
The applicable minimum wage in Jersey City is $15.49/hour, which is about $32,219/year at full time. Jersey City does not set a separate employee minimum wage, so the New Jersey statewide minimum of $15.49/hour for most employers applies; New Jersey indexes the rate to inflation each January.
The MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates a single adult in Hudson County needs about $25.00/hour, roughly $52,000/year, to cover basic costs without assistance.
At full time, $85,000/year is about $40.87/hour, $7,083/month gross, and $3,269 per biweekly paycheck before taxes.