NJ Civil Service Navigator

REALTY SPECIALIST 1 TRANSPORTATION

Code: 57108 State Competitive Range: P19 (FY2026)

Career Family: REALTY SPECIALIST

Salary: $58,817.71 - $85,742.03/year FY2026 schedule (last updated 2026-05-08)

Realty Specialist 1 Transportation sits in the competitive class of New Jersey's state civil service, so reaching it runs through testing and an eligible list instead of a straight hire.

This is where the Realty Specialist ladder starts, one grade under Realty Specialist 2 Transportation, whose band tops out about $17,445 higher. It lists a bachelor's degree as the baseline, with an experience-based path open to those who do not hold the degree. Pay on the FY2026 schedule runs $58,818 to $85,742, and state payroll currently lists about 12 people in the title, most of them at Transportation.

How to apply

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Agency posting

    Department of Transportation posts its own vacancies directly, often before (or instead of) any civil service exam announcement. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.

Pay ladder: Realty Specialist series

  1. Realty Specialist 1 Transportation — $58,818 – $85,742 (this title)
  2. Realty Specialist 2 Transportation — $70,431 – $103,187
  3. Realty Specialist 3 Transportation — $80,756 – $118,678
  4. Realty Specialist 4 Transportation — $92,711 – $136,605

Promoting to Realty Specialist 2 Transportation raises the top of the band by about $17,445. Its top salary lands around the 27th 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 12 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $61,510. The agencies employing the most are:

  • Transportation (12)

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 Realty Specialist 3, Transportation or Realty Specialist 4, Transportation, performs the work involved in conducting negotiations, relocation, property management, project programming, administrative and the laws and principles of Eminent Domain activities associated with the purchase and disposition of real property; does other related duties as assigned.

Examples of work

Conducts negotiations with property owners, agents for owners and owner's counsel for necessary property rights and makes personal service of legal documents. Prepares contracts for the purchase of real property and provides explanations to property owners regarding the meaning of clauses contained in agreements and legal pleadings. Provides relocation advisory assistance to occupants and assists occupants in making application for relocation payments. Interprets Right of Way and construction plans to describe and respond to owner's questions regarding the proposed property acquisition. Reviews the Access cutout and compares cutout to Individual Parcel Map. Reviews environmental reports or letters. Explains to owners the impact contamination may have on the valuation of the property. Investigates and clarifies problem areas with respect to determination of state real property ownership, title searches, department jurisdiction, and property boundaries. Aids the unit supervisor in gathering, interpreting, and correlating miscellaneous state and local real property and/or design/construction project data and prepares factual reports of findings. Provides information to other state agencies, local governments, and the general public on matters relating to state owned or leased real property and design/construction projects. Participates in developing and maintaining an inventory of suitable properties available, and performs some market research analysis to identify suitable properties using market surveys, published and computerized information sources, and multimedia advertising, contacting real estate broker, owners, or agents, and making personal site evaluations to locate potential leased space for use by state agencies. Conducts negotiations pursuant to the standards set forth in the Administrative/Legal Settlement Authorization Schedule. Conducts on-site inspections of real property and secures ownership/tenancy data relevant to the residential or commercial occupants. Prepares site occupancy surveys and workable relocation assistance plans. Investigates the real estate market and locates information pertaining to comparable sales and leases, which provide indicators of current property values. Responds to requests from state and local officials regarding state real property matters. Conducts investigations of title to real property. Develops information regarding tax assessments and encumbrances on the title of real property. Assists staff appraisers in preparing estimates of the cost to acquire real property for proposed transportation improvements. Provides assistance to Deputy Attorneys General in condemnation proceedings. May testify as a witness in condemnation hearings and trials. Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information systems used by the agency, office or related units.

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 problems involved in appraising real estate and negotiating for its purchase. Knowledge of procedures for preparing real estate contracts. Knowledge of the procedures to be followed in investigating and determining land values and preparing estimates of the cost of improvements on the land. Knowledge of the types of appraisal methods available. Knowledge of general engineering concepts utilized in the preparation of specialist reports. Knowledge of the basic Access Code process as implemented by the State. Knowledge of the interaction between the Access Code and the Acquisition of Right of Way. Knowledge of and familiarity with the basic legal terms and concepts prevailing in real estate law, including the laws and principles of Eminent Domain, and their application to the work of the bureau. Ability to communicate effectively with property owners regarding the purchase of real property. Ability to analyze the problems involved in appraising the current and potential market value of real estate. Ability to negotiate for the purchase of real estate. Ability to explain the basics behind the environmental report. Ability to investigate problem areas with respect to determination of state real property ownership, title searches, department jurisdiction, and property boundaries. Ability to interpret legal agreements and descriptions of property. Ability to correlate data pertaining to sales and use it to identify trends affecting property values. Ability to conduct basic investigations of titles to land and encumbrances. Ability to prepare cost estimates and specifications. Ability to read and analyze construction plans and determine their probable effect upon land values and damage to property. Ability to maintain information in mapped and tabular form for state real property holdings in New Jersey. Ability to provide information to other state agencies, local governments, and the general public on matters relating to state owned or leased real property and design/construction projects. Ability to comprehend basic law and regulations pertaining to the purchase of land for highway uses and to interpret them to laymen, property owners, and others. Ability to organize and accomplish assigned work. Ability to understand and interpret contracts agreements and plans. Ability to work constructively and cooperatively with staff and to establish and maintain productive contacts with property owners, the general public, and the representatives of county and municipal jurisdictions. Ability to successfully complete a formalized course of instruction concerning real property acquisition techniques. Ability to prepare clear, concise, accurate, and informative reports, containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. 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. 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 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 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. Five (5) years of professional experience in any phase of Right of Way work subject to the Federal Highway Funding Reimbursement Program (e.g. appraisal, negotiations, relocation, property management or programming and administration). OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and one (1) year of the above-mentioned professional experience. "Professional experience" refers to work that is analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range of basic knowledge of the profession's concepts and practices; and is performed with the authority to act and make accurate and informed decisions. SCNE18N/AP18- SC4018N/AP19- This job specification is for government use only. Salary range is only applicable to state government. Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions. 4/24/2010