The $100,000 Salary Analysis for Camden

This is a breakdown of a $100,000 gross salary in Camden, New Jersey. It assumes you are a single filer taking the standard deduction. No fluff, just the math.

1. The Verification Test

A $100,000 salary is not $100,000 in your pocket. The government gets paid first.

• Gross Salary: $100,000
• Federal Tax (Est.): -$14,398
• FICA (SS/Med): -$7,650
• NJ State Tax (Est.): -$4,100 (NJ has a progressive tax structure; this is an effective rate estimate for this bracket).
• Net Pay (Estimated): $73,852

You are losing roughly 26% of your gross income to taxes before you see a dime.

2. Smart Budget (50/30/20)

Based on your estimated monthly net pay of $6,154, here is how the standard budget buckets look in Camden.

Needs (50% - $3,077)

• Rent (1BR Avg): -$1,451
• Utilities (Electric/Heat/Water): -$150
• Groceries/Household: -$500
• Transportation (Car Insurance/Gas/PT): -$400
• Remaining for Needs: $576 (This is your buffer for health insurance premiums or unexpected car repairs).

Wants (30% - $1,846)

• This is your discretionary spending. Dining out, subscriptions, shopping, and entertainment.
• Reality Check: If your "Needs" creep up (e.g., you have a car note or high student loans), this bucket is the first to disappear.

Savings (20% - $1,231)

• This is what you should be saving.
• Reality Check: After rent and taxes, saving $1,231 monthly requires strict discipline. It takes roughly 6.5 years to save $100,000 at this rate (assuming no interest or market fluctuations).

3. Camden Tax Context

New Jersey is not a low-tax haven.

• Vs. Texas/Florida (0% State Income Tax):
  • In a 0% state, your Net Pay would be roughly $78,000.
  • NJ costs you about $4,100 more per year in state income tax alone.
• Vs. California/NY (High Tax):
  • You are doing better than NYC (where you might lose another $5k+ to city taxes) or CA (where state tax on $100k is roughly $6,500+).
• Property Tax Context:
  • While your rent is $1,451, remember that NJ has the highest property taxes in the nation. If you ever buy a home here, your monthly housing cost will likely jump significantly compared to renting.

4. FAQ

"Is $100k good here?"
It is a "survival with comforts" salary. You are not struggling, but you are not building wealth rapidly. You can afford the $1,451 rent comfortably, but a major financial setback (job loss, medical emergency) puts you in a vulnerable position quickly because the surplus margin is thin.

"Local income tax?"
Camden city itself does not levy a municipal income tax on residents. However, you will pay a 2.5% "Resident Employer Tax" if you work in Philadelphia (Crossing the bridge). If you work in NJ, you only pay the standard NJ State Income Tax.