MEDICAL SECURITY OFFICER 1
Career Family: MEDICAL SECURITY OFFICER
In New Jersey, Medical Security Officer 1 is filled through the competitive process: candidates take a civil service exam and are hired off a ranked list, not picked at will.
It is the lowest-paid of the 3 Medical Security Officer grades, a step below Medical Security Officer 2, whose band tops out about $9,125 higher. Qualifying turns on 1 year of relevant experience. The FY 2027 range lands between $57,582 and $83,828, and state payroll currently lists about 453 people in the title, most of them at Health and Senior Services.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. One agency employs it. We don't track live vacancies.
See where to apply for this title →Who employs this title
Medical Security Officer 1 appears on the State payroll at one department, Department of Health.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Health | 453 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Pay ladder: Medical Security Officer series
- Medical Security Officer 1 — $57,582 – $83,828 (this title)
- Medical Security Officer 2 — $63,663 – $92,953
- Medical Security Officer 3 — $72,896 – $106,798
Promoting to Medical Security Officer 2 raises the top of the band by about $9,125. Its top salary lands around the 24th percentile of all NJ civil service titles that publish a range.
Rungs are ordered by FY 2027 pay. NJ level numbers are not always sequential, so ordering follows salary rather than the title number.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 453 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $68,314. The agencies employing the most are:
- Health and Senior Services (453)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under the limited supervision of a supervisory official in a state hospital or long-term care facility, performs paraprofessional and manual duties involved in the safety, custody, and care of patients or residents who require medical security; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
Provides a secure environment for patient care by maintaining patient or resident order and discipline within the hospital/facility and on the grounds. De-escalates situations when a patient or resident becomes upset; communicates with patients based on their understanding of the population's needs. Organizes assigned work and develops effective work methods. Ensures that Medical Security Officer Recruits complete assigned tasks. Assumes responsibility for the physical well-being, care, custody, and safety of the patients or residents in an assigned ward, building, or area. Escorts patients or residents safely to treatment, therapy, recreation, vocational, educational, and religious programs or to meals, wards, or rooms. As directed, transports patients to/from designated areas outside the hospital or facility. Participates with recreational activities as assigned. Assists with feeding patients or residents and serving meals in accordance with policies and training. Assists patients or residents in areas of personal appearance, hygiene, bathing, dressing, and skills of everyday living as assigned. Orders linen supplies for assigned area and maintains patient or resident rooms with them; orders various toiletry and other items on patients' or residents' behalf. Lifts patients or residents on and off beds and stretchers in accordance with training. Observes patient or resident behavior patterns noting changes in mental status or physical appearance; reports same via incident reports, special reports, and/or notification to a direct supervisor or other designated individual. Makes meaningful, legible entries in patients' or residents' charts of pertinent observations. As required, oversees or conducts various inspections of windows, window bars, level boxes, doors, electrical fixtures, heating and ventilation equipment, etc. regarding security irregularities; reports issues to a supervisor. As assigned, assists in searching patients or residents and patient or resident areas. As required, makes rounds ensuring general fire safety precautions are in order by inspecting fire extinguishers, water hoses, and fire alarm boxes; participates in routine fire drills. Helps to keep assigned wards and areas clean and in a neat condition in accordance with policies. Assists with patients or residents and visitors on visiting days. Takes the lead or participates in training activities as required. Oversees or makes counts of patients or residents. Prepares reports. Maintains essential records and files. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Requirements
AGE: Minimum age of 18 years.
Experience
One (1) year of experience in work involving the direct care and custody of patients or residents requiring medical security.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of the condition and behavior patterns of persons confined to a hospital or a long-term care facility. Knowledge of the procedures for identifying and referring problem situations involving patients or residents requiring medical security measures. Knowledge of modern patient or resident care routines, methods, and procedures. Knowledge of basic emergency care procedures. Knowledge of typical behavior problems. Ability to understand, remember, assign, and carry out oral and written assignments and instructions, and to organize assigned custodial, manual, and other work. Ability to oversee and perform the work involved in the cleanliness, sanitation, orderliness, and safety of assigned areas. Ability to assume responsibility for the physical well-being and custody of patients or residents by day and by night. Ability to assist with the bathing, dressing, and feeding of patients or residents, with preparing patients or residents for bed, with escorting patients or residents to varied areas within the building and on the grounds, and with recreational activities. Ability to recognize and report significant occurrences, irregularities, behavior problems, and dangerous conditions to the proper officials and to act in an appropriate and calm manner when emergencies occur. Ability to make entries on patients' or residents' charts. Ability to prepare reports and documentation timely. Ability to maintain the essential records and files. Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible. This job specification is applicable to the following title code(s) which are different work week or work month and/or variants of the job class title: Job Spec Code State, Local or Common Class of Service Work Week State Class Code Local Class Code Salary Range
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. NOTE: Appointments may be made to positions requiring bilingual skills. - Bilingual in Spanish and English SPECIAL SKILL Applicants must be able to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in Spanish and English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. SC4017N/AH18-Bilingual In Spanish And EnglishSC4017N/AH18- This job specification is for government use only. Salary range is only applicable to state government. Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions. 2/21/2026