EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT 2
Career Family: EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
New Jersey treats Executive Assistant 2 as a competitive-class job, so the gate is an examination and the ranked list it produces rather than a direct offer.
It sits mid-series for Executive Assistant, one step up from Executive Assistant 1 and one below Executive Assistant 3. The spec names a master's degree, but it leaves the door open to substitute experience for the degree. The FY2026 range lands between $80,756 and $118,678, and state payroll currently lists about 67 people in the title, led by Environmental Protection.
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 Environmental Protection 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.
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Agency posting
Department of Health 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.
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Agency posting
Department of the Treasury'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.
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Agency posting
Motor Vehicle Commission'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.
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Agency posting
Department of Education 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.
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Agency posting
Department of Human Services'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.
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Agency posting
Department of Community Affairs 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.
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Agency posting
Department of Law & Public Safety 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.
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Agency posting
Department of Corrections'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.
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Agency posting
Department of State 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.
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Agency posting
Department of Children and Families 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.
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Agency posting
Board of Public Utilities'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.
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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.
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Agency posting
Department of Banking & Insurance'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.
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Agency posting
Department of Agriculture'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.
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Agency posting
State Parole Board'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.
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Agency posting
Office of the Secretary of Higher Education 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: Executive Assistant series
- Executive Assistant 1 — $70,431 – $103,187
- Executive Assistant 2 — $84,548 – $124,366 (this title)
- Executive Assistant 3 — $97,100 – $143,176
- Executive Assistant 4 — $106,547 – $157,363
Promoting to Executive Assistant 3 raises the top of the band by about $18,810. Its top salary lands around the 61st 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 67 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $107,301. The agencies employing the most are:
- Environmental Protection (14)
- Health and Senior Services (9)
- Treasury (6)
- Motor Vehicle Commission (5)
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 direction of a Bureau Chief in a state department or head of an agency, institution, or college, acts as staff and representative responsible for assisting in the execution of a bureau function or less complex departmental, agency, or institutional functions through the implementation of policy and development, management, and/or control of plans, programs, and operations by employing accepted modern techniques of management; may assist a higher-level Executive Assistant in a large department or agency; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
Assists in development, review, interpretation, and control of objectives, policies, and procedures of a bureau or less complex departmental, agency, or institutional functions. Assists in planning and organizing programs. Recommends organizational arrangements, performance criteria, and administrative policies designed to help achieve organization and program goals. Confers with management on budgetary needs and allowances. Evaluates organizational, operational, and administrative budget requests to ensure effective use of resources. Ensures project target dates and/or deadlines are met, resolves problems that may arise, and refers critical delays to executive officer. Assists in development and implementation of measures to ensure organizational unit executive officer directives are properly managed, assigned, and carried out. Serves as liaison to other department and division agencies to alleviate management and administrative problems. Collaborates with data processing specialists on design and installation of data processing management information systems. Confers with personnel analysts on classification, recruitment, payroll, and employee problems. Consults with budget experts on budget limitation and policies. Participates in or performs special studies or investigations requiring analysis of requests and statistics in highly sensitive areas and recommends appropriate action. May act as internal department hearing officer on behalf of executive officer, principally on grievance and disciplinary matters. Addresses organizational unit or agency project concerns on behalf of executive officer and advises on matters requiring attention. May conduct community outreach and collaborate with outside entities for agency exposure. May navigate and research related media communications and social media content. Represents executive officer at meetings and conferences. Researches, analyzes, and/or prepares proposed legislation affecting organizational unit programs or functions. Assists in establishment of administrative procedures required by new legislation or directives. Provides assignments and instruction to other staff members. Drafts correspondence in the course of official duties. Prepares and oversees preparation of clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, statistical information, analyses, conclusions, and recommendations. Maintains essential records 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.
Requirements
NOTE: 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. Seven (7) years of professional experience in program management with responsibility for planning, organizing, coordinating, staffing, reporting, and/or budgeting, or in assisting an executive with program development and/or implementation. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. OR Possession of a master's degree in Personnel Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration, or Psychology; and two (2) years of the above-mentioned professional experience.
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 management principles, concepts, and techniques. Knowledge of applicable New Jersey laws and federal regulations. Knowledge of rules, regulations, and policies of Department of the Treasury budgets, budget control, and fiscal procedures. Knowledge of Civil Service Commission (CSC) personnel procedures, policies, and rules. Knowledge of programs, responsibilities, functions, organization budget, and operating problems of the division after a period of training. Ability to interpret and apply pertinent New Jersey laws and federal government regulations. Ability to interpret and apply rules, regulations, and policies of Department of the Treasury budgets, budget control, and fiscal procedures. Ability to establish and apply procedures in accordance with Civil Service Commission (CSC) and division policies. Ability to interpret and apply CSC personnel procedures, policies, and rules. Ability to plan, initiate, and execute programs within the bureau, department, agency, or institution. Ability to analyze, interpret, and apply basic laws, rules, and regulations. Ability to collaborate and work cooperatively with associates, subordinates, divisions and/or departments, and the public. Ability to develop standards to be applied to administrative practices, procedures, and budgets. Ability to perform and implement modern budget practices, procedures, and analyses. Ability to plan, carry out, and report on assigned investigations, surveys, studies, and research activities. Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to maintain essential records 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
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. "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. SCNL26N/AP26- SC4E26N/AP27- This job specification is for government use only. Salary range is only applicable to state government. Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions. 1/13/2024
Study guides for this exam
- Executive Assistant National Learning Corporation · $49.95
The Civil Service Commission does not publish official study guides or release past tests. These are independent equivalency guides.