TEST DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST 4
Career Family: TEST DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST
Test Development Specialist 4 is a competitive state title, the kind you test for: the exam result, not a hiring manager's pick, decides where you land in line.
Of the 4 Test Development Specialist grades this one pays the most, sitting just above Test Development Specialist 3. You can qualify with a master's degree or, if you do not have one, by piling up more experience instead. Pay on the FY2027 schedule runs $95,955 to $141,386, and state payroll currently lists 6 people in the title, most of them at Civil Service Commission.
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
Civil Service 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.
Pay ladder: Test Development Specialist series
- Test Development Specialist 1 — $60,876 – $88,743
- Test Development Specialist 2 — $69,668 – $101,951
- Test Development Specialist 3 — $79,844 – $117,228
- Test Development Specialist 4 — $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 6 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $116,853. The agencies employing the most are:
- Civil Service Commission (6)
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 general direction of a higher-level supervisory official in the Division of Test Development and Analytics in the Civil Service Commission, is responsible for supervising the examination activities and workloads of a unit; supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees. Supervises examination activities in a specialized field or area. Gives appropriate assignments, instructions, and guidance to assigned Test Development Specialists. Critically reviews job analysis data, test plans, test items, and examinations prepared by subordinate staff; makes revisions as required to ensure the validity of examinations. Attends meetings with subordinate staff and subject matter experts to develop, review, and/or validate oral, essay, or multiple-choice test items. Reviews statistical analysis packages (i.e., raw score distributions, item analyses, reliability data, etc.) using the Technical Standards Manual and Division Operating Procedures as guidelines, to detect errors in examinations, approve suggested cut-off points, and ultimately to establish employment lists. Confers with higher-level management and state and local government jurisdiction officials concerning proposed, current, and completed examinations, and problems affecting testing activities, devising realistic and sound solutions. Maintains continuous liaison with other units within the agency to identify problem areas and formulate realistic solutions. Investigates and reports on complaints received regarding examination matters. Provides recommendations to management for improving efficiency within the division. Serves as a technical resource to Test Development Specialists and provides formal instruction to staff in oral examination techniques, job analysis, item writing, and/or data analysis. Conducts special short and long-range projects to improve the quality of examinations. Prepares and/or supervises the preparation of correspondence, technical reports, memoranda, and other written materials. Maintains and/or supervises the maintenance of 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.
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 Test Development & Analytics Technical Standards. Knowledge of the uniform guidelines on employee selection procedures. Knowledge of division policies and procedures related to test development, security, and assembled examinations. Knowledge of Merit System principles, N.J.A.C. 4A, and Title 11A (Civil Service Act). Knowledge of job analysis methods and techniques. Knowledge of test development principles, including test mode selection, identification of content areas, subtest weighting strategies, and item development. Knowledge of descriptive statistics and psychometrics. Knowledge of employee selection research techniques and procedures. Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit. Ability to apply research principles and methods to test validation and development. Ability to analyze data/information. Ability to perform basic mathematical and statistical calculations (e.g., percentages, mean, standard deviation, etc.). Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with associates, representatives from local and state agencies, members of the public, and others. Ability to keep current with new concepts and developments in the field of testing. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing. Ability to prepare clear, concise, and accurate reports. 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.
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. Eight (8) years of professional experience in job analysis and/or test development, including or supplemented by eighteen (18) semester hour credits in Psychology, Education, or Sociology, and three (3) semester hour credits in Statistics. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree including or supplemented by eighteen (18) semester hour credits in Psychology, Education, or Sociology, and three (3) semester hour credits in Statistics from an accredited college or university; and four (4) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree in Psychology, Education, or Sociology, including three (3) semester hour credits in Statistics; and four (4) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. OR Possession of a Master's degree in Psychology, Education, or Sociology, including three (3) semester hour credits in Statistics from an accredited college or university; and three (3) years 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.