Physics Degree in Jersey City, NJ — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Jersey City, NJ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$79K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$133K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4 yrs
in Jersey City
Cost of Living
127
index (100 = avg)
Physics 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. Physics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Jersey City is approximately $78,740, growing to $133,350 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
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%
Physics Salary in Jersey City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Jersey City's cost of living index of 127 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Jersey City adjustment factor: 1.27x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Jersey City
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics 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
$34,290
vs HS diploma in Jersey City
ROI Payback Period
4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Jersey City
$814,644
Lifetime earnings premium ($952,500) minus total education cost ($137,856)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Jersey City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Jersey City for Physics
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 Physics in Jersey City
Jersey City offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Jersey City Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Physics Job Titles
Physics in Nearby New Jersey Cities
Newark, NJ
$84K starting · COL 135
14 colleges
Paterson, NJ
$80K starting · COL 129
5 colleges
Elizabeth, NJ
$72K starting · COL 115.5
6 colleges
Edison, NJ
$73K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Lakewood, NJ
$80K starting · COL 128.8
5 colleges
Woodbridge, NJ
$70K starting · COL 112.5
4 colleges
Toms River, NJ
$73K starting · COL 117.7
4 colleges
Trenton, NJ
$83K starting · COL 134
8 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Jersey City
Prompt Engineering
$64K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$121K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$108K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$112K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$104K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$108K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$64K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$102K starting · 3 yr ROI
Physics 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 Physics ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Jersey City.