STATE INVESTIGATOR 1, LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Career Family: STATE INVESTIGATOR
State Investigator 1, Law and Public Safety falls in New Jersey's unclassified service: an appointing authority hires for it directly, without a civil service exam.
It is the lowest-paid of the 4 State Investigator grades, a step below State Investigator 2, Law and Public Safety, whose band tops out about $14,502 higher. The stated bar is a bachelor's degree, but candidates can swap in added experience for the diploma. The FY2027 range lands between $63,663 and $92,953, and state payroll currently lists about 48 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. One agency employs it. We don't track live vacancies.
How to apply for this title →Pay ladder: State Investigator series
- State Investigator 1, Law and Public Safety — $63,663 – $92,953 (this title)
- State Investigator 2, Law and Public Safety — $76,287 – $111,856
- State Investigator 3, Law and Public Safety — $87,507 – $128,719
- State Investigator 4, Law and Public Safety — $100,498 – $148,187
Promoting to State Investigator 2, Law and Public Safety raises the top of the band by about $14,502. Its top salary lands around the 36th percentile of all NJ civil service titles that publish a range.
Rungs are ordered by FY2027 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 48 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $67,170. The agencies employing the most are:
- Law and Public Safety (48)
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 the close supervision of a State Investigator 4 or other supervisory official in the Division of Gaming Enforcement, or New Jersey Racing Commission, Department of Law and Public Safety, assists in performing specific field and office work relative to financial, compliance, and enforcement functions, applicants for gaming and/or racing licensure, or criminal/civil violations of other state statutes; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
Searches financial books and records of corporations, private individuals, and government agencies to uncover relative, uncomplicated evidence which may prove fraudulent conduct and/or implicate further criminal activity and additional violations. Analyzes data obtained during an investigation to determine presence of evidentiary leads. Prepares reports detailing conduct of assigned investigations and summarizes investigative findings. Performs various financial, compliance, and enforcement investigations as required by NJ Gaming Statutes and NJ Racing Commission regulations. Assists with detecting, securing, and preserving of physical evidence. Testifies before Grand Juries, Courts of Law, New Jersey Casino Control Commission, NJ Racing Commission, and other judicial bodies. Obtains assistance from the supervisor to make contacts in following-up leads provided by informants on certain aspects of investigative activity. Prepares reports for administrative matters. Participates in investigations designed to prepare for prosecution cases involving white-collar crime, official corruption, racing related violations, or to determine suitability of casino and/or horse racing license applicants for licensure. Prepares affidavits and search warrants. Conducts surveillance, searches, and seizures designed to apprehend individuals engaged in criminal activity to gather investigative information. Questions and subpoenas witnesses and provides for transportation and security of defendants and witnesses. Maintains essential records, reports, 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.
Education
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree.
Experience
One (1) year of experience conducting background or criminal type investigations including the review and analysis of financial and accounting records.
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 NJ statutes concerning applications for gaming and/or horse racing licenses. Knowledge of business and investigative systems, methods, and procedures including the continuous revision and alteration of these methods and procedures as may be required per investigation. Knowledge of investigative techniques including both law enforcement and financial investigations. Knowledge of the principles of communications to achieve the results desired. Knowledge of law enforcement operations and procedures on local, state, national, and international levels. Knowledge of corporation structures, financial transactions, and of financial fraud in large scale corporations leading to successful conclusion of audit reviews and investigations. Knowledge of the casino, gaming and/or horse racing industries and other applicable licensure industries to include laws, operations, staffing, and knowledge of related ancillary and service industries. Knowledge of civil rights of individuals under investigation. Knowledge of the types of documents required for criminal litigation cases and the detailed preparation thereof. Knowledge of methods and techniques of performing covert investigations. Knowledge of surveillance devices and photographic and video equipment utilized during an investigation. Knowledge of methods and techniques of regulatory and licensure analysis to be performed. Knowledge of techniques of investigative reporting and the preparation of detailed investigative reports. Knowledge of the procedures for conducting background checks. Knowledge of the procedures governing the rules of evidence. Knowledge of the electronic communications equipment and data base software utilized during an investigation. Ability to testify as a state witness in criminal, licensure, regulatory, and civil investigations before State Grand Juries, Federal Court, other courts of law, or other judicial or hearing forums. Ability to organize assigned field and office work. Ability to analyze investigative findings. Ability to conduct interviews. Ability to interpret results of investigations for possible civil or criminal violations of NJ Statutes. Ability to work with informants. Ability to apply policies, procedures, and regulations of the Department of Law and Public Safety. Ability to work harmoniously with coworkers, subordinates, all levels of casino and/or horse racing employees, superior officers, and sworn law enforcement personnel. Ability to prepare and execute affidavits and search warrants to include preparation of returns on warrants to the court. Ability to utilize informants during investigative activities. Ability to participate and render assistance in training activities. Ability to prepare detailed correspondence during investigation activities. Ability to travel extensively to obtain information on various licensure applicants, operations, or other investigative matters day or night. Ability to work under adverse conditions and at any hour of the day or night. Ability to maintain essential records, reports, 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
Incumbents in this position are not police officers, may not perform law enforcement duties and have no law enforcement authority. 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. Applicants who do not possess the required education may substitute additional experience as required on a year-for-year basis with thirty (30) semester hour credits being equal to one (1) year of experience. A Master's degree or certification as a Certified Public Accountant may be substituted for one (1) year of indicated experience. Applicants accepting employment as Investigators for the Division of Gaming Enforcement, Department of Law and Public Safety, are required to adhere to the employment restriction that they not pursue outside gainful employment during their tenure . SU4L20N/AY21- SUNE20N/AY20- This job specification is for government use only. Salary range is only applicable to state government. Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions. 10/7/2023