INVESTIGATOR 2 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE/DISABILITY INSURANCE
Career Family: INVESTIGATOR
To land Investigator 2 Unemployment Insurance/Disability Insurance in New Jersey you go through the competitive route: you sit an announced exam and the score puts you on the eligible list agencies hire from.
A master's degree is the listed credential, and extra years on the job can be traded for it. The FY2026 range lands between $67,312 and $98,503, and state payroll currently lists about 13 people in the title, most of them at Labor.
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.
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Agency posting
Department of Labor and Workforce Development's employment page may require a click-through to see specific openings. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
Pay ladder: Investigator series
- Investigator 1 — $61,510 – $89,810
- Investigator 2 — $70,431 – $103,187
- Investigator 3 — $80,756 – $118,678
- Investigator 4 Law and Publc Safety — $80,756 – $118,678
Its top salary lands around the 42nd 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.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 13 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $70,431. The agencies employing the most are:
- Labor (13)
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.
Definition
Under limited supervision of a Supervisory official in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, conducts complex office and/or field investigations of suspected fraudulent wage replacement claims and Department tax matters involving alleged noncompliance with state statutes and regulatory requirements. May take the lead over entry level staff; does other related duties. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The INVESTGATOR 2 UI/DI level is designed to address those wage replacement benefit conflicts that are referred outside of the department to a criminal agency. This will require the INVESTIGATOR 2 UI/DI to be more familiar with the process by which claims are paid. This level will act as liaison with various law enforcement agencies, such as USDOL-OIG, New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice and County Prosecutor Offices and other agencies as needed. This position will require knowledge of LWD programs to the extent of being able to explain the program process. This level will also be responsible for the management of specific cross matches that are used to identify wage replacement benefit conflicts and fraud reports used to detect fraudulent activity. The INVESTIGATOR 2 UI/DI handles criminal and administrative cases.
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 procedures and techniques used to conduct investigations and interviews. Knowledge of Income Security operating systems for benefit programs or supporting benefit programs and the ability to use that information when reviewing various fraud reports used to determine overpayments and/or fraudulent activity. Knowledge of the types of conditions that would constitute an overpayment and the factors that are considered in determining a fraud or non-fraud overpayment under the statutes, regulations and policy of the governing benefit program. Knowledge of methods to research and obtain supporting data for an investigation. Knowledge of the methods involved in reviewing and analyzing overpayments of Income Security benefits. Knowledge of the methods and techniques used to establish claims for benefits based on fictitious employment in order to identify any such scheme that may be encountered. Knowledge of the methods and techniques used internally to defraud the agency, in order to identify any such scheme that may be encountered. Knowledge of various fraud reports used to identify fraudulent activity. Knowledge of various cross-matches used to determine overpayments. Knowledge of the methods and techniques used to collect and preserve evidence. Knowledge, in cases which are contested in the courts, or which are involved in grand jury presentment, of the problems encountered in acting as a witness, in presenting testimony, and of the procedures useful in locating witnesses. Knowledge of legal documents such as subpoenas, affidavits and search warrants and how these documents are used in an investigation. Knowledge of procedures for requesting/obtaining subpoenas and search warrants. Knowledge of legal terminology used in investigative work. Ability to determine what constitutes an overpayment and the factors that are considered in determining a fraud or non-fraud overpayment under the statutes, regulations and policy of the governing benefit program. Ability to train entry level staff in investigative techniques or procedures. Ability to acquire knowledge of the methods and techniques that may be used to establish claims for benefits based upon fictitious employment. Ability to understand and apply regulations, policies, statutes, laws to conduct an investigation and support the findings. Ability to interview witnesses and take proper statements from them to introduce in court proceedings. Ability to provide testimony under oath in administrative hearings, state and federal courts or other judicial bodies. Ability to gather and preserve evidence to introduce in court proceedings. Ability to obtain and review reports of police and other law enforcement agencies. Ability to determine and evaluate situations which require photographs and/or radios. Ability to testify to the accuracy, time, place, and direction of photographs to lay a foundation for their introduction as evidence. Ability to conduct, or participate as a member of a team in assigned office and/or field investigative duties. Ability to prepare reports of investigative activities. Ability to establish and maintain records and files. Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and 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 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.
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. EXAMPLES OF WORK: Investigates cases involving alleged fraud or overpayments. Analyzes suspicious claims and allegations of fraud to determine whether investigation is warranted. Reviews and analyzes various benefit fraud reports to identify fraud patterns or identify and investigate suspicious claims. Provides assistance to entry level investigators. May be required to take the lead of a group of entry level investigators engaged in the investigation of a complex matter or specific investigative process. Schedules and conducts pre-determination hearings with claimants in benefit matters involving overpayments. Makes determinations of overpayments or fraud and imposes sanctions, including fines and disqualifications, in accordance with statutes and regulations for any benefit program in Income Security. Reviews cross-match reports and initiates investigations to identify potential overpayments. Establishes refund liability when investigation results in the identification of overpayments. Identifies, collects, and preserves evidence obtained during the course of an investigation. Reviews information received on alleged violations involving any benefit programs in Income Security and takes appropriate action. Actions may include documenting the allegation, opening an investigation and conducting an investigation, referring the allegation for further action, making a determination that no further action is necessary. Interviews witnesses to obtain supporting documentation relative to alleged violations by individual(s) or organization(s). Prepares reports of investigational activities containing facts, findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Prepares reports of investigational activities containing facts, findings, conclusions, and recommendations, and notifies appropriate agencies. As required supports criminal law enforcement efforts on benefit matters involving alleged fraud. Prepares correspondence. Reviews correspondence relating to inquiries and prepares replies based on review of documents relevant to investigatory matters and research of applicable laws, rules, and regulations. Participates in joint investigations and or surveillance with other agencies, or other law enforcement agencies. Maintains records and files relevant to investigatory matters in the administration of duties and assignments. Maintains confidentiality with investigations. Conducts investigations in compliance with applicable statutes and regulations. Acts as witness and testifies for the state before grand juries, courts of law, administrative hearings, or other judicial bodies as required. As required conducts surveillance at all hours to establish patterns of conduct and detect violations of law. As required uses cameras, radios and other investigative equipment and analyze the information gathered through their use. Participates in the execution or serving of legal documents such as administrative warrants, subpoenas, orders, and notices. Prepares or assists in the preparation of legal documents for review and further process. As required reviews criminal history record information from verifiable sources and performs follow-up investigations to determine the employment eligibility of applicants and existing employees. As assigned trains new or subordinate investigation staff in Investigation techniques or unit procedures. Oversees and/or participates in the establishment and recovery of benefit overpayments for unemployment insurance, temporary disability insurance and family leave insurance. Recovery includes any manner through which repayments are recouped by the Department, including, but not limited to, payments from individuals and third parties, such as SOIL (Set-Off of Individual Liability) and TOPS (Treasury Offset Program). Oversees and/or participates in collection efforts related to overpayments established by the unit. This includes oversight for the preparation of reports necessary to measure and document results to record unit performance in accordance with state and federal requirements. Oversees and/or participates in bankruptcy and garnishment cases related to benefit programs. Oversees and/or participates in receipt, recording and depositing of all monies received for repayment of benefits that had been overpaid. Oversees and/or participates in the processes for overpayment of benefits determined through investigation, to include the review and mailing of notices of overpayment and making necessary corrections to claims that have overpayments. Oversees and/or participates in providing support and coordination of all matters related to representing the unit in all appeal hearings related to refunds established by the unit. Maintains essential records and files. Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information system used by the agency, office, or related units. 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. Six (6) years of professional office and/or field experience in adjudicating, analyzing and/or investigating wage replacement benefit programs or in the examination or investigation of tax liability for compliance with legal or regulatory requirements. Applicants who do not possess the required experience may substitute experience in law enforcement performing criminal follow-up investigations (not preliminary investigations) for the required experience on a year-for-year basis. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and two (2) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. OR Possession of a master's degree in public administration, business administration, social work, or criminal justice; and one (1) year of the above-mentioned professional 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.