ASSISTANT FIELD INVESTIGATOR, WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION AND CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
Bilingual In Spanish And English
In New Jersey, Assistant Field Investigator, Wage and Hour Division and Contract Compliance is filled through the competitive process: candidates take a civil service exam and are hired off a ranked list, not picked at will.
The stated bar is an associate's degree, but candidates can swap in added experience for the diploma. The FY2026 range lands between $47,157 and $68,252.
How to apply
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Exam
This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.
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Exam
Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.
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 close supervision of a District Supervisor, Office of Wage and Hour Division and Contract Compliance or other supervisory official in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, assists in field work of the Wage and Hour Division by making routine investigations and other interventions and preparing preliminary reports and other material relating to the administration of the sections of the public statutes for which the Wage and Hour Division is responsible; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
Makes the necessary contacts with employers/employees of the requirements of applicable laws administered by the Office of Wage and Hour Compliance. May visit places of employment and provide preliminary/routine/follow-up examinations of personnel records, payroll, and time records, registers, and other records which are subject to the provision of the law. May assist professional staff during investigations. Interviews employers/employees and others, including minors, who may have knowledge relevant to investigations being made in cases in which violations of the law exist, and makes other investigations to secure evidence pertaining to the administration/enforcement of the law. Secures written statements, affidavits, and other information/evidence needed to resolve questions concerning possible violations of applicable laws. Acts as a process server and serves summonses and complaint papers, subpoenas and may assist in serving Stop Work Orders. May assemble material and prepare statistical data for analysis and computation regarding wages/salaries paid by individual firms and other reports and surveys as required. May act as a witness for the state in situations wherein cases are contested before any court of appropriate jurisdiction. May perform office tasks related to inspection procedures. Prepares routine reports of inspections and related matters concerning detailed/relevant information. Maintains records and files. May visit camps and tenant houses occupied by seasonal agricultural/industrial workers, inspects housing and sanitary conditions and inspects areas near camps and tenant dwellings with respect to sanitary and other conditions. May explain provisions of the NJ Crew Leader Registration Act and other statutes to camp owners and operators, farmers, and others, and checks the camp occupancy requirements and report violations in accordance with the law. May prepare and submit reports covering completed inspections, indicating condition of grounds/quarters with specific attention to the area provided, the privacy of occupants, and the cleanliness, fire protection, water supply, lighting, cooking, heating, and bathing/toilet/waste disposal facilities available, within a specified time frames. May conduct investigations related to the enforcement of the Crew Leader Registration Act. May review applications in accordance with the Contractor Registration Act. May contact contractors for additional compliance information and make appropriate recommendations on regarding the status of the applications. 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.
Education
Graduation from an accredited college or university with an Associate's degree.
Experience
One (1) year of experience in the investigation and inspection of violations of laws, regulations or other related administrative duties.
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 local community public/voluntary agencies concerned with the civic, health, welfare, and education of residents. Knowledge of rural seasonal agricultural workers' problems pertaining to sanitation, water supply, housing, field sanitation, pay, working conditions, and safety. Knowledge of the customs of various ethnic and cultural groups. Knowledge of regulations required in camps/dwellings/dormitories established for seasonal farm workers and their families. Knowledge of the types of occupations prohibited for minors under provisions of NJ Wage and Hour laws. Ability to organize assigned field investigative work, analyze problems arising therein, and develop appropriate work methods. Ability to understand, interpret, and apply basic laws/regulations in accordance with established Wage and Hour Division procedures. Ability to understand New Jersey laws and related federal statutes pertaining to wages and hours and of the specific provisions of the Wage and Hour Law, Child Labor Law, Crew Leader Registration Act, Prevailing Wage Law, Contractor Registration Act and other applicable laws. Ability to make field investigations and physical inspections of places of employment of varied types, and make examinations of personnel records, employment records, payroll time books, and registers to determine compliance with applicable laws. Ability to obtain information pertaining to cases where alleged violations of the law are suspected from employers, employees, and others by personal interviews and other investigatory techniques. Ability to compile data concerning wages/hours for statistical presentation and to write routine reports of wage and hour investigations and related activities containing findings/recommendations. Ability to serve summonses and/or subpoenas and to take the interview statements of witnesses. Ability to speak with owners/managers and with employees of nursing homes, farms, places of amusement, summer resorts, and other business entities concerning conditions of employment, wages, and the number of hours worked by minors. Ability to maintain records and files in accordance with Wage and Hour policies and procedures. 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 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 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 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. Applicants who do not possess the required education may substitute additional experience as indicated above on a year-for-year basis with thirty (30) semester hour credits being equal to one (1) year of experience. Applicants who do not possess the required one (1) year of experience may substitute an additional thirty (30) semester hour credits. SCNE14N/AA14-Bilingual In Spanish And EnglishSCNE14N/AA14- This job specification is for government use only. Salary range is only applicable to state government. Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions. 9/23/2023