NJ Civil Service Navigator

HOUSEKEEPER 1

Code: 44102 Common Non-Competitive Range: O6 (FY2026)

Career Family: HOUSEKEEPER

Salary: $33,514.21 - $47,830.09/year FY2026 schedule (last updated 2026-05-08)

New Jersey classifies Housekeeper 1 as non-competitive, which skips the exam-and-list step and turns on whether you meet the minimum requirements.

It is the lowest-paid of the 2 Housekeeper grades, a step below Housekeeper 2, whose band tops out about $9,201 higher. What it takes is 2 years of relevant experience. Pay on the FY2026 schedule runs $33,514 to $47,830.

How to apply

  • No exam
    This title is not filled by examination

    Non-competitive, unclassified, and Senior Executive Service titles are appointed directly by the hiring agency rather than through a civil service exam. Apply directly to the agency below.

Pay ladder: Housekeeper series

  1. Housekeeper 1 — $33,514 – $47,830 (this title)
  2. Housekeeper 2 — $39,681 – $57,031

Promoting to Housekeeper 2 raises the top of the band by about $9,201. Its top salary lands around the 0th percentile of all NJ civil service titles that publish a range.

Rungs are ordered by FY2026 pay. NJ level numbers are not always sequential, so ordering follows salary rather than the title number.

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.

Definition

Under direction of a supervisory official in an institution or school, performs housekeeping work involved in care, cleaning, and maintenance of offices, living quarters, school areas, wards, and cottages; does related work as required.

Examples of work

  • Organizes work and develops effective work methods.
  • Assigns and instructs employees, patients and/or inmates assigned to housework.
  • Oversees the scrubbing, waxing and polishing of floors and linoleum; the washing of woodwork, vacuuming of rugs and carpets; dusting, polishing of furniture; hanging of curtains; bed-making; and other tasks concerned with the maintenance of dwelling places in a clean and orderly condition.
  • Checks and counts linens and laundry and ensures that articles are mended.
  • Distributes and records household linens.
  • Prepares requisitions for needed equipment, and ensures that these are properly stored, safeguarded, recorded and used.
  • Answers the telephone and takes messages.
  • Maintains inventories of equipment and supplies.
  • Reports unsafe conditions and unusual occurrences to the proper persons.
  • Keeps basic records and files.
  • 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.

Experience

Two (2) years of experience in institutional or industrial housekeeping work.

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 necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

  • Knowledge of housekeeping methods and procedures.
  • Knowledge of housekeeping tools and equipment.
  • Ability to provide instructions to individuals and groups of employees, patients and/or inmates assigned to housekeeping work.
  • Ability to maintain inventories of household equipment and supplies, including linens and other household equipment, materials and supplies.
  • Ability to recognize potentially unsafe conditions and occurrences.
  • Ability to prepare basic reports and keep records.
  • 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 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.