Human Resources Degree in Jersey City, NJ — Salary & ROI 2026
Human Resources degree analysis for Jersey City, NJ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$64K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$99K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.2 yrs
in Jersey City
Cost of Living
127
index (100 = avg)
Human Resources in Jersey City, NJ Overview
Jersey City is one of New Jersey's top college towns, with 23 institutions and a student population of 26,694. Public tuition averages $12,750/year here — near the national average for public universities. Human Resources enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Recruiting and Employee Relations. The adjusted starting salary in Jersey City is approximately $63,500, growing to $99,060 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
23
Public Tuition
$12,750/yr
Private Tuition
$40,360/yr
Room & Board
$21,714/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,349/yr
Unemployment
3.5%
Graduation Rate
50%
Human Resources Salary in Jersey City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Jersey City's cost of living index of 127 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Human Resources salary: $50,000 starting, $78,000 mid-career, $100,000 senior level.Jersey City adjustment factor: 1.27x based on the local cost of living index.
Human Resources ROI Calculator for Jersey City
Estimate your return on investment for a Human Resources degree using local Jersey City tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,750 | Private avg: $40,360
Jersey City avg aid: $10,349/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$137,856
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,050
vs HS diploma in Jersey City
ROI Payback Period
7.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Jersey City
$497,144
Lifetime earnings premium ($635,000) minus total education cost ($137,856)
Student Loan Payoff for Human Resources in Jersey City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Jersey City for Human Resources
Saint Peter's University
private
$40,360/yr
$161,440 total
New Jersey City University
public
$12,750/yr
$51,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Hudson County Community College
$5,040/yr
Top Employers for Human Resources in Jersey City
Jersey City offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Human Resources graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Jersey City Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Human Resources Job Titles
Human Resources in Nearby New Jersey Cities
Newark, NJ
$68K starting · COL 135
14 colleges
Paterson, NJ
$65K starting · COL 129
5 colleges
Elizabeth, NJ
$58K starting · COL 115.5
6 colleges
Edison, NJ
$59K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Lakewood, NJ
$64K starting · COL 128.8
5 colleges
Woodbridge, NJ
$56K starting · COL 112.5
4 colleges
Toms River, NJ
$59K starting · COL 117.7
4 colleges
Trenton, NJ
$67K starting · COL 134
8 colleges
Other Business Majors in Jersey City
Business Analytics
$99K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$89K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$83K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$64K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$64K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$64K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$79K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$64K starting · 4 yr ROI
Human Resources Degree in Jersey City — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Human Resources ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Jersey City.