What home projects cost in New Jersey
Construction workers in New Jersey earn $1,724 a week on average, +10.6% against the national $1,559. Because labour is roughly 45% of a residential project and materials cost much the same everywhere, that works out to about +4.8% on the price of a job here.
Biggest difference: ADU, where a typical project runs $8,600 more here than the national figure.
Idaho, lowest Alaska, highest
New Jersey pays more than 45 of the 51, and the taller notch marks the national average.
| Project | In New Jersey | National |
|---|---|---|
| Home Addition cost in New Jersey | $68,700 – $103,100 | $65,600 – $98,400 |
| Bathroom Remodel cost in New Jersey | $14,300 – $22,300 | $13,700 – $21,400 |
| Basement Finishing cost in New Jersey | $30,200 – $45,200 | $28,800 – $43,200 |
| Interior Painting cost in New Jersey | $4,500 – $6,800 | $4,300 – $6,500 |
| Garage Conversion cost in New Jersey | $27,100 – $44,100 | $25,800 – $42,200 |
| Shower Remodel cost in New Jersey | $5,350 – $8,750 | $5,150 – $8,350 |
| Flooring Installation cost in New Jersey | $5,900 – $9,200 | $5,600 – $8,800 |
| ADU cost in New Jersey | $139,600 – $237,600 | $133,200 – $226,800 |
| Cabinet Refacing cost in New Jersey | $5,500 – $8,600 | $5,250 – $8,250 |
| Kitchen Remodel cost in New Jersey | $33,400 – $54,600 | $31,900 – $52,100 |
| Countertop cost in New Jersey | $2,950 – $4,600 | $2,800 – $4,400 |
| Project | In New Jersey | National |
|---|---|---|
| Tree Removal cost in New Jersey | $650 – $1,150 | $650 – $1,050 |
| Window Replacement cost in New Jersey | $5,950 – $9,750 | $5,700 – $9,300 |
| Roof Replacement cost in New Jersey | $6,650 – $10,900 | $6,350 – $10,400 |
| Concrete Driveway cost in New Jersey | $5,250 – $8,550 | $5,000 – $8,200 |
| Retaining Wall cost in New Jersey | $4,600 – $7,500 | $4,350 – $7,150 |
| Landscaping cost in New Jersey | $4,200 – $7,100 | $4,000 – $6,800 |
| Pool cost in New Jersey | $34,900 – $59,500 | $33,400 – $56,800 |
| Exterior Painting cost in New Jersey | $4,700 – $7,400 | $4,500 – $7,000 |
| Siding cost in New Jersey | $7,650 – $12,000 | $7,300 – $11,400 |
| Asphalt Driveway cost in New Jersey | $3,750 – $6,350 | $3,550 – $6,050 |
| Fence Installation cost in New Jersey | $2,950 – $4,950 | $2,800 – $4,700 |
| Gutter Installation cost in New Jersey | $1,600 – $2,650 | $1,500 – $2,500 |
| Concrete Patio cost in New Jersey | $2,100 – $3,600 | $2,000 – $3,400 |
| Project | In New Jersey | National |
|---|---|---|
| Mold Remediation cost in New Jersey | $2,000 – $3,300 | $1,950 – $3,150 |
| Foundation Repair cost in New Jersey | $5,600 – $9,100 | $5,300 – $8,700 |
| HVAC Replacement cost in New Jersey | $9,850 – $15,400 | $9,350 – $14,600 |
| Furnace Replacement cost in New Jersey | $4,800 – $7,800 | $4,550 – $7,450 |
| Well Drilling cost in New Jersey | $5,600 – $9,900 | $5,350 – $9,450 |
| Chimney Repair cost in New Jersey | $1,100 – $2,000 | $1,050 – $1,950 |
| Asbestos Removal cost in New Jersey | $1,750 – $3,250 | $1,700 – $3,100 |
| Water Heater Replacement cost in New Jersey | $1,250 – $2,150 | $1,200 – $2,000 |
| Crawl Space Encapsulation cost in New Jersey | $4,150 – $7,350 | $3,950 – $7,050 |
| Electrical Panel Upgrade cost in New Jersey | $1,950 – $3,450 | $1,850 – $3,350 |
| Septic System cost in New Jersey | $5,950 – $11,100 | $5,650 – $10,500 |
| Basement Waterproofing cost in New Jersey | $3,900 – $7,200 | $3,700 – $6,900 |
How the New Jersey figures are worked out
Every range on this page is the national estimate with one adjustment: the labour portion is scaled by what construction actually pays in New Jersey.
Wages come from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages, NAICS 23 (Construction), private ownership. New Jersey averages $1,724 a week against $1,559 nationally, an index of 1.106. Applied to a labour share of 45%, that gives a multiplier of 1.048.
What this cannot tell you. It is a state average, and the gap between a metro and a rural county inside New Jersey is often wider than the gap between states. Materials are treated as national, which is close to true for lumber and shingles and less true where freight is long. Permit costs, local code and how busy contractors are that month move real quotes as much as wages do. Treat this as a starting point and get a written quote.
Questions about New Jersey costs
- Is home improvement more expensive in New Jersey?
- Construction wages in New Jersey run +10.6% against the national average of $1,559 a week. Labour is about 45% of a residential project and materials cost much the same everywhere, so that works out to roughly +4.8% on the price of a job. New Jersey pays more than 45 of the 51 states and the District of Columbia.
- Does the New Jersey adjustment hit some projects harder than others?
- No. It is a wage adjustment, so it moves every project by the same +4.8%, whether that is a tree removal or an addition. What changes is the dollar amount: ADU moves by about $8,600 while tree removal moves by less than $100. If a contractor tells you one trade is unusually expensive in New Jersey, that is a local market condition, not something this data can show.
- What is the cheapest home improvement project in New Jersey?
- Of the 36 projects priced here, tree removal is the least expensive at $650 to $1,150 for a typical job, and ADU is the most at $139,600 to $237,600. Both assume a mid finish level; every calculator lets you change the scope and the finish.
- Are these figures accurate for my city in New Jersey?
- They are state-level figures and should be read that way. The gap between a metro area and a rural county inside one state is often wider than the gap between two states, and the wage data behind this page does not resolve below the state. Use the range as a starting point for what to expect, then get an on-site quote, which is the only firm number.