The 25 jobs more common in New Jersey than anywhere else

Bruce Springsteen, pork roll, and Sunday summer traffic on the Garden State: They’re all part of what makes New Jersey distinct.

But data shows the true face of the state is our pharmacists, hairdressers and gas attendants.

The federal government’s yearly jobs data is out, and it and shows some promising signs for New Jersey: The state has gained jobs since 2012, although wages have remained flat. The jobs data also can tell us what New Jersey looks like, using a “location quotient,” a means of rating of how much more common a job is in one place compared to the rest of the nation.

Vehicle attendants rated high in the ranking because New Jersey is the only state that still requires someone else to pump your gas. The data also shows our strengths: Biochemists and chemists were the most “New Jersey” jobs in a state where pharmaceutical companies and flavor manufacturers share a strong presence.

And what about those hairdressers and manicurists? What can I say — I like nice nails to grip the margarita I’m sipping on the Jersey Shore.

About the data: This data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2018 jobs survey. Occupation categories with less than 5,000 workers were excluded.

25. Food Servers, Non-restaurant

Employment, 2018: 11,920

Median salary: $23,950

This profession is 1.6 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description (from the Bureau of Labor Statistics): Serve food to individuals outside of a restaurant environment, such as in hotel rooms, hospital rooms, residential care facilities, or cars.

24. Packers and Packagers, Hand

Employment, 2018: 30,180

Median salary: $22,340

This profession is 1.62 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: Pack or package by hand a wide variety of products and materials.

23. Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

Employment, 2018: 17,400

Median salary: $33,940

This profession is 1.65 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: Provide beauty services, such as shampooing, cutting, coloring, and styling hair, and massaging and treating scalp. May apply makeup, dress wigs, perform hair removal, and provide nail and skin care services.

22. Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers

Employment, 2018: 5,570

Median salary: $88,500

This profession is 1.68 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: Install and repair telecommunications cable, including fiber optics.

21. Marketing Managers

Employment, 2018: 11,380

Median salary: $160,420

This profession is 1.69 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: Plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers. Develop pricing strategies with the goal of maximizing the firm’s profits or share of the market while ensuring the firm’s customers are satisfied. Oversee product development or monitor trends that indicate the need for new products and services.

20. Data Entry Keyers

Employment, 2018: 8,360

Median salary: $37,960

This profession is 1.71 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: Operate data entry device, such as keyboard or photo composing perforator. Duties may include verifying data and preparing materials for printing.

19. First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

Employment, 2018: 5,650

Median salary: $129,620

This profession is 1.73 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.

18. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand

Employment, 2018: 141,660

Median salary: $26,900

This profession is 1.75 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: Manually move freight, stock, or other materials or perform other general labor. Includes all manual laborers not elsewhere classified.

17. Legal Secretaries

Employment, 2018: 9,020

Median salary: $49,840

This profession is 1.82 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: Perform secretarial duties using legal terminology, procedures, and documents. Prepare legal papers and correspondence, such as summonses, complaints, motions, and subpoenas. May also assist with legal research.

16. Home Health Aides

Employment, 2018: 41,040

Median salary: $23,620

This profession is 1.84 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: Provide routine individualized healthcare such as changing bandages and dressing wounds, and applying topical medications to the elderly, convalescents, or persons with disabilities at the patient’s home or in a care facility. Monitor or report changes in health status. May also provide personal care such as bathing, dressing, and grooming of patient.

15. Software Developers, Applications

Employment, 2018: 46,930

Median salary: $101,460

This profession is 1.86 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: Develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions. Design software or customize software for client use with the aim of optimizing operational efficiency. May analyze and design databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team. May supervise computer programmers.

14. Receptionists and Information Clerks

Employment, 2018: 54,490

Median salary: $32,380

This profession is 1.87 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: Answer inquiries and provide information to the general public, customers, visitors, and other interested parties regarding activities conducted at establishment and location of departments, offices, and employees within the organization.

13. Sales and Related Workers, All Other

Employment, 2018: 6,020

Median salary: $51,070

This profession is 2.25 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: All sales and related workers not listed separately.

11. Manicurists and Pedicurists

Employment, 2018: 7,210

Median salary: $23,250

This profession is 2.34 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: Clean and shape customers’ fingernails and toenails. May polish or decorate nails.

11. Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School

Employment, 2018: 12,110

Median salary: $65,700

This profession is 2.34 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: Teach elementary school subjects to educationally and physically handicapped students. Includes teachers who specialize and work with audibly and visually handicapped students and those who teach basic academic and life processes skills to the mentally impaired.

10. Healthcare Support Workers, All Other

Employment, 2018: 6,080

Median salary: $34,840

This profession is 2.44 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description:All healthcare support workers not listed separately

9. Cooks, Short Order

Employment, 2018: 10,760

Median salary: $22,650

This profession is 2.47 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: Prepare and cook to order a variety of foods that require only a short preparation time. May take orders from customers and serve patrons at counters or tables.

8. Social and Human Service Assistants

Employment, 2018: 27,220

Median salary: $34,960

This profession is 2.48 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: Assist in providing client services in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, including support for families. May assist clients in identifying and obtaining available benefits and social and community services. May assist social workers with developing, organizing, and conducting programs to prevent and resolve problems relevant to substance abuse, human relationships, rehabilitation, or dependent care.

7. Crossing Guards

Employment, 2018: 5,740

Median salary: $33,090

This profession is 2.57 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: Guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as streets, schools, railroad crossings, or construction sites.

6. File Clerks

Employment, 2018: 8,070

Median salary: $31,400

This profession is 2.62 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: File correspondence, cards, invoices, receipts, and other records in alphabetical or numerical order or according to the filing system used. Locate and remove material from file when requested.

5. Counter Attendants, Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop

Employment, 2018: 35,460

Median salary: $20,170

This profession is 2.67 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: Serve food to diners at counter or from a steam table.

4. Special Education Teachers, Middle School

Employment, 2018: 6,850

Median salary: $68,050

This profession is 2.79 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: Teach middle school subjects to educationally and physically handicapped students. Includes teachers who specialize and work with audibly and visually handicapped students and those who teach basic academic and life processes skills to the mentally impaired.

3. Chemists

Employment, 2018: 7,460

Median salary: $89,000

This profession is 3.15 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.

2. Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants (Note: Includes gas attendants)

Employment, 2018: 10,230

Median salary: $20,390

This profession is 3.21 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: Service automobiles, buses, trucks, boats, and other automotive or marine vehicles with fuel, lubricants, and accessories. Collect payment for services and supplies. May lubricate vehicle, change motor oil, install antifreeze, or replace lights or other accessories, such as windshield wiper blades or fan belts. May repair or replace tires.

1. Biochemists and Biophysicists

Employment, 2018: 6,350

Median salary: $129,670

This profession is 7.96 times more common in New Jersey than the rest of the country.

Description: Study the chemical composition or physical principles of living cells and organisms, their electrical and mechanical energy, and related phenomena. May conduct research to further understanding of the complex chemical combinations and reactions involved in metabolism, reproduction, growth, and heredity. May determine the effects of foods, drugs, serums, hormones, and other substances on tissues and vital processes of living organisms.

Erin Petenko may be reached at epetenko@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @EPetenko. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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