By State · New Jersey

Women in New Jersey: Pay, Representation, and Firsts

Everything the data says about women in New Jersey — pay, legislature representation, historical firsts, and how the state ranks against the rest of the US.

81.2%
Women’s earnings as % of men’s in New Jersey
Census ACS S2001
#28
of 51 US jurisdictions for pay equity (1 = highest)
Computed from state ratios
32.5%
Women in the New Jersey state legislature
CAWP Rutgers 2024
#20
Rank for women’s legislative representation
Computed from CAWP data
4
Women from New Jersey in 119th US Congress
CAWP 2025
1994
Year of first woman governor
CAWP State Executive

Where New Jersey sits

Women in New Jersey earn 81.2 cents for every dollar men earn — a gap of 18.8%. That puts New Jersey #28 out of the 51 US jurisdictions on pay equity. The women-in-legislature figure of 32.5% ranks New Jersey #20 nationally.

Notable firsts & figures

Christine Todd Whitman (1994-2001) — first woman governor. Never elected a woman US Senator.

Professions in New Jersey

State-adjusted pay and gap figures for women in 20 common professions in New Jersey. Each page combines national BLS medians with New Jersey’s Census ACS wage environment.

SurgeonsWomen surgeons in New JerseyDoctorsWomen doctors in New JerseyLawyersWomen lawyers in New JerseyRegistered NursesWomen nurses in New JerseySoftware DevelopersWomen software developers in New JerseyChief ExecutivesWomen CEOs in New JerseyEngineersWomen engineers in New JerseyElementary TeachersWomen teachers in New JerseyAccountantsWomen accountants in New JerseyProfessorsWomen professors in New JerseyDentistsWomen dentists in New JerseyPharmacistsWomen pharmacists in New JerseyArchitectsWomen architects in New JerseyPsychologistsWomen psychologists in New JerseyAirline PilotsWomen airline pilots in New JerseyElectriciansWomen electricians in New JerseyPlumbersWomen plumbers in New JerseyPolice OfficersWomen police officers in New JerseyJournalistsWomen journalists in New JerseyFinancial AnalystsWomen financial analysts in New Jersey

Fields in New Jersey

AcademiaWomen in Academia in New JerseyConstruction and the Skilled Trades (2026)Women in Construction and the Skilled Trades (2026) in New JerseyEngineeringWomen in Engineering in New JerseyFinanceWomen in Finance in New JerseyLawWomen in Law in New JerseyMedicineWomen in Medicine in New JerseySportsWomen in Sports in New JerseyTechWomen in Tech in New JerseyUS PoliticsWomen in US Politics in New Jersey

Related national data

HistoricalWomen at work, 2000 NationalWomen in US politics ToolPay Gap Lookup (New Jersey) CompareWomen vs men at work HubAll 51 US states

Frequently asked

What is the gender pay gap in New Jersey?

Women in New Jersey earn 81.2% of what men earn — a gap of 18.8%. Census ACS S2001 data.

How many women are in New Jersey’s state legislature?

32.5% of New Jersey state legislators are women — rank #20 nationally among 51 US jurisdictions (CAWP 2024).

Has New Jersey elected a woman governor?

Yes — the first woman governor of New Jersey took office in 1994.

Has New Jersey elected a woman US Senator?

No — New Jersey has never elected a woman US Senator.

How many women does New Jersey send to Congress?

4 women from New Jersey serve in the 119th US Congress (House + Senate, 2025-27).