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.