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Job title · New Jersey

Detective / Criminal Investigator in New Jersey

New Jersey Civil Service Commission lists 4 job classes for this work in the New Jersey state pay plan: Special Agent Trainee, Special Agent 3–1.

$68,381 – $151,323
state pay plan range, a year
4
classes in the state plan
$116,300
median pay in NJ, all employers
3,080
workers in NJ (SOC 33-3021)

Sources: New Jersey Civil Service Commission, New Jersey State Title List and FY2027 salary schedules by Employee Relations Group; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

New Jersey state pay plan Sourced

Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective July 11, 2026. These are the ranges New Jersey sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.

Class and gradePublished rate
Special Agent Trainee
Class 51342 · class description
Grade FA95 (51342) · Trainee/Apprentice Titles, FY2027 Compensation Compendium (Appendix A)
$68,381 – $71,668 a year
Special Agent 3
Class 51343 · class description
Grade FA18 · ERG FA – State Law Enforcement Unit (PBA-SLEU): FY2027 salary schedule
$75,122 – $121,080 a year
11 steps
  • Step 1: $75,122 a year
  • Step 2: $78,744 a year
  • Step 3: $82,366 a year
  • Step 4: $85,987 a year
  • Step 5: $89,609 a year
  • Step 6: $93,231 a year
  • Step 7: $96,852 a year
  • Step 8: $100,474 a year
  • Step 9: $106,125 a year
  • Step 10: $113,602 a year
  • Step 11: $121,080 a year
Special Agent 2
Class 51344 · class description
Grade FA21 · ERG FA – State Law Enforcement Unit (PBA-SLEU): FY2027 salary schedule
$86,543 – $139,798 a year
11 steps
  • Step 1: $86,543 a year
  • Step 2: $90,741 a year
  • Step 3: $94,938 a year
  • Step 4: $99,136 a year
  • Step 5: $103,333 a year
  • Step 6: $107,531 a year
  • Step 7: $111,728 a year
  • Step 8: $115,926 a year
  • Step 9: $122,473 a year
  • Step 10: $131,136 a year
  • Step 11: $139,798 a year
Special Agent 1
Class 51345 · class description
Grade K24 · ERG K – Primary Level Supervisors Law Enforcement Unit, Non-Troopers (NJLESA): FY2027 salary schedule
$94,713 – $151,323 a year
11 steps
  • Step 1: $94,713 a year
  • Step 2: $99,188 a year
  • Step 3: $103,664 a year
  • Step 4: $108,139 a year
  • Step 5: $112,615 a year
  • Step 6: $117,090 a year
  • Step 7: $121,566 a year
  • Step 8: $126,041 a year
  • Step 9: $130,516 a year
  • Step 10: $140,920 a year
  • Step 11: $151,323 a year

Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: New Jersey Civil Service Commission, New Jersey State Title List and FY2027 salary schedules by Employee Relations Group. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay in New Jersey, all employers Sourced

Detectives and Criminal Investigators (SOC 33-3021) in New Jersey, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.

MeasureNJ
Workers3,080
10th percentile$73,100
Median$116,300
90th percentile$165,570
National median, government employers$93,790

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Employers in New Jersey

488 police departments in New Jersey.

21 sheriff's offices in New Jersey.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Free practice tests for New Jersey

Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.

More about this job

Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Detective / Criminal Investigator page.

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