Why part time New Jersey legislators will soon earn more than the average resident

We already know that New Jersey is one of the most expensive states to live in the United States. In fact, recent analysis reveals that The Garden State has the third-highest Household Expenses in America.

The average New Jersey resident's annual salary is $73,980, which is the fifth-highest in the United States. But starting in 2026, New Jersey politicians will be paid more money for a part-time job than the average full-time worker employed in The Garden State.

Why Are New Jersey Politicians Now Making Significantly More Money?

In January 2024, Governor Phil Murphy signed a new law that authorized 178 members of the state government to receive pay raises. Among that group are prominent part-time public workers who are receiving a 67 percent increase to their annual salaries.

For the first time in the history of New Jersey, State Senators and State Assemblymen will be paid a higher annual income than the state residents' average annual salary. The state legislators will see an increase from $49,000 in 2025 to $82,000 starting in 2026.

If New Jersey residents are not frustrated enough about part-time public employees making almost $10,000 more than the average NJ individual resident, but those same people will be forced to pay an extra $4 million per year from taxpayers.

New Jersey legislators are now the sixth-highest paid in the United States. The National Conference of State Legislators report shows that the states with highest paid state legislators are New York ($142,000), California ($128,000), Pennsylvania ($106,000), Illinois ($89,000), and Alaska ($84,000).

The important difference is that New York, California, and Pennsylvania are full-time legislators, and their work schedules are equivilent of full-time employees.  According to the New Jersey Monitor, NJ Legislators log between 89-90 legislative days per year.

Here are the other New Jersey Government Employees Receiving Pay Increases:

*New Jersey’s Governor and Lieutenant Governor annual salary is increasing from $175,000 to $210,000
*New Jersey governor’s cabinet members will have salary increases from $175,000 to $210,000
*State Board of Public Utilities’ five commissioners have their annual salary increase from $175,000 to $210,000