INVESTIGATOR 4 LAW AND PUBLC SAFETY
Career Family: INVESTIGATOR
Investigator 4 Law and Publc Safety is a non-competitive state civil service title, so there is no ranked exam. You qualify by meeting the stated education and experience.
This is the senior rung of the Investigator series, the level you reach after Investigator 3. It lists a doctoral degree as the baseline, with an experience-based path open to those who do not hold the degree. Pay on the FY 2027 schedule runs $83,582 to $122,832, and state payroll currently lists about 117 people in the title, most of them at Law and Public Safety.
How to apply
This title is not filled by examination — agencies appoint directly.
See every real route in, and where to apply. 2 agencies employ it. We don't track live vacancies.
See all 2 employers and how to apply →Who employs this title
Investigator 4 Law and Publc Safety appears on the State payroll at 2 departments, most of them at Department of Law & Public Safety.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Law & Public Safety | 116 |
| Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness | 1 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Pay ladder: Investigator series
- Investigator 1 — $62,499 – $91,249
- Investigator 2 — $71,562 – $104,839
- Investigator 3 — $83,582 – $122,832
- Investigator 4 Law and Publc Safety — $83,582 – $122,832 (this title)
Its top salary lands around the 69th 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 117 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $107,301. The agencies employing the most are:
- Law and Public Safety (116)
- Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (1)
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 direction of a Supervising Investigator or other supervisory official in the Department of Law and Public Safety, leads an investigative unit or team or coordinates an investigative program, conducting in depth regulatory and administrative audits and inspections of licensed premises; reviews records, files, financial statements, and other transactions to determine compliance with rules or regulations governing consumer protection laws; performs other confidential and sensitive civil and regulatory investigative activities or specialized investigations to detect alleged noncompliance with or violations of New Jersey state statutes, administrative codes, Professional Rules of Conduct, or consumer protection laws; performs other related duties as required.
Examples of work
Leads an investigative unit or team in the enforcement of state statutes, administrative codes, rules, regulations, or Professional Rules of Conduct. Investigates information on applications and other documents. Investigates allegations of negligence, incompetence, misrepresentation, or misconduct of individuals, organizations, vendors, service providers, or agencies. Investigates credit history of individuals and organizations. Investigates claims for evidence of fraud or misconduct. Takes the lead in investigating allegations of unethical conduct of licensed individuals in organizations under provisions of the Professional Rules of Conduct. Conducts investigations of incidents of improper or incomplete reporting techniques. Investigates complaints received from the general public. Takes the lead in investigating allegations of illegal activities or noncompliance with state statutes or administrative codes. Inspects vendor premises, equipment, files, records, and other transactions. Informs consumers of illegal practices, such as false advertising, unsafe practices, or unlicensed practitioners. Verifies manufacturer's claim of product effectiveness and safety. Collects evidence obtained from an investigation. Catalogs evidence for presentation to supervisor and legal counsel. Secures evidence for presentation in court or administrative hearings. Develops leads or information networks for investigative purposes. Examines financial records and statements. Provides evidence as a witness or testifies in court or in administrative hearings. Selects individuals, organizations, or companies for routine investigation and inspection. Informs violators of changes necessary for compliance with laws, rules, or regulations. Notifies violators of noncompliance with laws, rules, or regulations. Enforces compliance with appropriate standards, codes, laws, rules, or regulations. Enforces court orders and monitors compliance of order. Examines records, documents, or other official recorded material required to be maintained by licensed individuals, organizations, vendors, service providers, and agencies. Reviews applications for licenses, permits, certificates, or renewals. Locates individuals for or under investigation. Conducts background checks, such as credit history, financial assets, or criminal history. Recommends procedures for initiating corrective action or abatement. Conducts administrative searches. Advises legal counsel of status of investigations in progress. Takes the lead in monitoring fair marketing of consumer products and services. Advises individuals of procedures, rules, regulations, and their governing policies. Reviews advertising material for misrepresentation. Recommends orders of suspension, revocation, confinement, or "stop orders." Implements restoration, suspension, or revocation of licenses or renewal of licenses. Checks for appropriate license, bond, certificate, or permits. Provides supervisors with justification for requested subpoenas, citations, or summonses. Drafts affidavits for submission to supervisors. Obtains affidavits or sworn testimonies from complainants, witnesses, or principals involved in investigations. Delivers legal notices, subpoenas, and other documents. Records (takes) testimony of all disputing parties. Informs interested parties of case status. Compiles materials for hearings, reviews, or other administrative forums. Obtains warrants for required inspections or administrative searches of premises. Arranges for transportation or accommodation of subpoenaed witnesses. Interviews individuals to obtain confidential and comprehensive information. Writes investigative reports. Maintains a case management system for investigations. Determines need to file charges against alleged perpetrators based on evidence. Gathers evidence, ensuring accountability and security of collected evidence. Analyzes evidence obtained for appropriateness and relevance. Mediates the settlement of differences among parties in a dispute. Trains subordinate investigators in investigative duties and techniques. Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
License
Appointee 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 required to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of civil and regulatory investigative terminology. Knowledge of legal rights of individuals under investigation. Knowledge of methods and procedures for conducting investigations. Knowledge of surveillance methods and procedures. Knowledge of types of surveillance devices and photographic and video equipment. Knowledge of law enforcement procedures governing document alteration, forgery, theft, embezzlement, and fraud. Knowledge of the type of documents required for litigation and their preparation. Knowledge of methods and techniques of covert investigation. Knowledge of methods and techniques of regulatory analysis. Knowledge of the techniques of investigative reporting. Knowledge of procedures for preparing affidavits or sworn testimonies obtained during the course of an investigation. Knowledge of procedures for conducting background checks. Knowledge of procedures for preparing final case disposition of field investigations. Knowledge of procedures governing rules of evidence. Knowledge of programs, investigative techniques, principles and practices utilized in training investigators. Knowledge of electronic communications equipment and data base software utilized during the course of an investigation. Knowledge of training principles and techniques. Knowledge of preparation of detailed investigative reports. Knowledge of principles and techniques of mediation. Ability to read, interpret, and apply laws, rules, and regulations. Ability to lead a team or group of investigators through assigned tasks. Ability to evaluate the reliability and credibility of witnesses' oral or written statements. Ability to implement training programs, policy and procedures for investigative and regulatory investigative duties and techniques. Ability to learn the principles of needs assessment. Ability to learn the principles of human resources planning and employment. Ability to learn 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, or 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 as long as they can perform 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.
Note
The definition for this title and the examples of work and knowledge, skills, and abilities are for illustrative purposes only. Any one position may not include all of the tasks and KSAs listed, nor do the examples cover all of the duties and KSAs which may be required. Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Eight (8) years of professional experience in the conduct of civil or criminal investigations related to compliance, enforcement, detection, and surveillance activity, including the preparation of investigative reports. OR Eight (8) years of professional experience in the conduct of investigative administrative audits and/or regulatory examinations of records maintained by businesses and organizations. OR Eight (8) years of professional experience in the conduct of investigations for the government, the military, consumer protection programs, public advocacy organizations, or the public interest. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and four (4) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. OR Possession of a juris doctorate or a master's degree in Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Business Administration, Law, or a related field; and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. Completion of a supervised internship field placement of 300 hours in an undergraduate curriculum in Criminal Justice or a related degree program may be substituted for one (1) year of the non-supervisory experience. "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.