STATE INVESTIGATOR 4, LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Career Family: STATE INVESTIGATOR
State Investigator 4, Law and Public Safety is an unclassified state title, filled by appointment and outside the tenure protections that cover the competitive ranks.
Of the 4 State Investigator grades this one pays the most, sitting just above State Investigator 3, Law and Public Safety. The stated bar is a bachelor's degree, but candidates can swap in added experience for the diploma. The FY2027 range lands between $95,955 and $141,386, and state payroll currently lists about 16 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 — $66,592 – $97,354
- 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 — $95,955 – $141,386 (this title)
Its top salary lands around the 85th 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 16 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $123,437. The agencies employing the most are:
- Law and Public Safety (16)
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 direction of the Administrator of Investigations or other supervisory official in the Division of Gaming Enforcement or New Jersey Racing Commission, Department of Law and Public Safety, supervises compliance, enforcement, and related investigative staff and activities involving application for licensure, and criminal and civil violations of other state statutes; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
Supervises and reviews work of assigned investigative personnel, and recommends next action to be taken by the Deputy Attorney General in charge of the case or the Chief State Investigator, Department of Law and Public Safety directing the investigation. Organizes assigned investigation or enforcement activities, analyzes personnel, and advises them on policies, procedures, laws, regulations, precedents, accounting principles, investigative, and auditing techniques, and develops work schedules and procedures. Conducts evaluations and recommends appropriate redeployment of personnel to meet changing investigative priorities, deadlines, assignments, attainment of investigative objectives, and to improve operating efficiency. May assist in developing and implementing new procedures designed to improve investigative functions. Participates in complex, major phases of investigations, and directs the course of an investigation when warranted by circumstances. Supervises the work programs performed by subordinates including examination and audit of financial books and records of private individuals, business entities, financial institutions, and government entities to prepare for prosecution cases involving white-collar crime, official corruption, organized crime, drug diversion, horse racing violations, or Medicaid and antitrust violations; or to determine suitability of a casino or racing industry applicant for licensure. Supervises various financial, compliance, and enforcement investigations as required by NJ Gaming Statutes and NJ Racing Commission regulations. Supervises interviews of witnesses, preparation of subpoenas, arrangement of transportation and security for defendants and witnesses, and expedites extradition proceedings. Supervises the preparation of affidavits. Supervises staff that participate in the execution of search warrants with sworn law enforcement partners; secures, preserves, and processes physical evidence, and prepares and submits detailed reports of complex investigations, activities, and assignments to superior officers. Supervises the preparation of investigative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Coordinates training of State Investigators in various specialized areas involved with compliance and enforcement activities of casino and/or horse racing operations or civil and criminal investigations of state statutes, and keeps staff informed of developments in investigations, new or revised procedures, legislation, applicable court decisions, and new investigative techniques. Maintains liaison and working relationships with federal, state, and local enforcement officials on matters of mutual interest, and advises superiors of possible impact of other enforcement actions. Supervises the work operations and functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of State Investigators. Testifies before Grand Juries, Courts of Law, NJ Casino Control Commission, NJ Racing Commission, and other judicial bodies. Supervises the preparation of reports on administrative matters. Trains subordinates to improve their skills, and follows-up on the effectiveness of training. Maintains and supervises the keeping of files, reports, and records involved with investigative activities. May assist in the preparation of the annual plan for staffing to include justification for additional personnel and non-personnel budget requests. 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
Five (5) years of experience conducting background or criminal type investigations including the review and analysis of financial and accounting records, one (1) year of which shall have been in a lead worker capacity.
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 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 including the continuous revision and alteration of methods, principles, and procedures as may be required by law. Knowledge of investigative techniques including both law enforcement and financial investigations. Knowledge of law enforcement operations and procedures on local, state, national, and international levels. Knowledge of principles of communications to achieve the results desired. Knowledge of corporation structures, financial data, and of financial fraud in large scale corporations leading to successful conclusions 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 surveillance devices, photographic, and video equipment utilized during an 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 methods and techniques of regulatory and licensure analysis to be performed. Knowledge of techniques of investigative reporting and preparation of detailed investigative reports. Knowledge of the procedures for conducting background checks. Knowledge of the procedures governing rules of evidence. Knowledge of the principles of needs assessment. Knowledge of the principles of human resource planning. Knowledge of training principles and techniques. Knowledge of the electronic communications equipment and data base software utilized during an investigation. Ability to implement training programs, principles, policies, and procedures for investigative and regulatory responsibilities. Ability to resolve problems in the administration or implementation of assigned investigations. 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 comprehend, analyze, and apply policies, procedures, and regulations of the Department of Law and Public Safety to work schedules, investigative activities, and personnel problems encountered. Ability to organize and supervise all phases of investigative activities. Ability to give assignments and instructions to subordinates and supervise the performance of their work. Ability to review and analyze existing investigative procedures and principles, evaluate their effectiveness accordingly, and recommend changes to improve efficiency. Ability to coordinate the training necessary to improve job performance of employees assigned to investigative activities. Ability to oversee the preparation and execution of affidavits and search warrants as required by law. Ability to supervise the use of informants by staff assigned to perform investigative activities. Ability to supervise and prepare complex correspondence in the course of official duties. Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations of investigative 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 supervise the establishment and maintenance of essential records, reports, and files on all matters relevant to Department of Law and Public Safety activities. 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 indicated 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 the 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. SU4L29N/AY30- SUNE29N/AY29- 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