MEDIA TECHNICIAN 3
Career Family: MEDIA TECHNICIAN
To land Media Technician 3 in New Jersey you go through the competitive route: you sit an announced exam and the score puts you on the eligible list agencies hire from.
It is the top of the Media Technician ladder, a grade above Media Technician 2. The one gate is 3 years of relevant experience. The FY2026 range lands between $64,340 and $94,062, and state payroll lists a single employee in the title, at Law and Public Safety.
How to get hired
- Watch for an open-competitive announcement for Media Technician 3 on the NJ Civil Service Commission jobs portal. Announcements run for a fixed filing window.
- Apply during that window and sit the examination. Depending on the title, that can be a written test, a rating of your training and experience, or a mix of the two.
- Passing scores go onto a ranked eligible list. Veterans get preference points added on top of their score.
- When an agency has a vacancy it must appoint from the top of that list under the "Rule of Three." Many competitive jobs are first filled provisionally while the list is being built.
Read the official specification at NJ Civil Service Commission.
Pay ladder: Media Technician series
- Media Technician 1 — $49,266 – $71,403
- Media Technician 2 — $56,253 – $81,897
- Media Technician 3 — $64,340 – $94,062 (this title)
Its top salary lands around the 37th 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 1 person working under this title. The median actual salary is $94,062. The agencies employing the most are:
- Law and Public Safety (1)
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.
Examples of work
- Provides guidance to Media Technicians of lower levels and takes the lead on work-related matters.
- Coordinates all purchasing and budgeting of hardware/software.
- Organizes and presents media workshops in production skills and equipment operations.
- Analyzes media equipment regularly for quality of performance, making such determinations as needed for repair, replacement, and modification.
- May be required to perform photographic processes including shooting photographs and using photographic skills (both developing and shooting 16 mm and super 8mm film).
- Trains staff in darkroom processes.
- Recommends changes in policies/procedures in media centers.
- Trains staff in assembling and electronic editing of video tapes.
- Coordinates the maintenance of all phases of media materials, repair and cleaning of software materials, and classification of material; acts as advisor on technical media matters.
- Distributes and controls various forms of video tape, film, and other software.
- Makes determinations such as deficient humidity control for films, video tapes, and other media materials, and ensures that required adjustments are made.
- Maintains essential records and files.
- Prepares clear, accurate, and informative reports.
- Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
One (1) year of formal training at a vocational or technical school or college in audiovisual production, graphics, and photography, and/or electronic theory, practice, and equipment.
Experience
Three (3) years of experience in media production, equipment, and photographic or media software.
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 essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of media software and hardware.
- Knowledge of audio devices and programming.
- Knowledge of television production including camera operation, sound techniques, and lighting techniques.
- Knowledge of purchasing and budgeting.
- Knowledge of photographic and cinematography processes and procedures.
- Ability to train staff and accept direction from supervisory officials.
- Ability to write and blend media into the writing process.
- Ability to organize and present media workshops in production skills and equipment operations.
- Ability to advise others on technical media matters.
- Ability to analyze media equipment/software for quality of performance, repairs, replacement, and/or modification.
- Ability to perform various photographic processes including shooting photographs and film developing.
- Ability to maintain essential records and files.
- Ability to prepare clear, accurate, and informative reports.
- 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 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 who do not possess the required education may substitute experience as indicated above on a year-for-year basis.