Government Jobs in New Jersey: Employers & Pay

1,400

local governments (2022)

counties

564

cities, towns and townships

222

special districts

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments — Government Organization. Data captured September 30, 2026.

New Jersey state government pay plan

New Jersey Civil Service Commission publishes the classification and pay plan for New Jersey state employees: 3,692 job classes and 520 pay grades, effective July 11, 2026. Below are the classes that match GovJobsWiki jobs, with annual ranges converted from the plan's published rates.

Job	Classes in the NJ plan	Annual range
911 Dispatcher / Public Safety Telecommunicator	Communications Operator Trainee, Communications Operator 1–3, +4 more 9 classes	$46,727 – $111,856
Accountant (government)	Accountant 3–1 6 classes	$58,222 – $122,832
Administrative Assistant (government)	Administrative Assistant 3–1 6 classes	$58,222 – $122,832
Administrative Law Judge / Hearing Officer	Hearing Officer 1–2, Administrative Law Judge 3 classes	$79,844 – $134,900
Bank / Financial Examiner	Financial Examiner Trainee, Financial Examiner 1–4, Certified Financial Examiner 6 classes	$58,222 – $148,187
Budget Analyst	Budget Analyst Trainee, Budget Analyst 3–1 7 classes	$55,691 – $128,719
Campus / University Police Officer	Campus Police Officer Recruit, Campus Police Officer 2 classes	$52,376 – $115,492
Child Protective Services (CPS) Caseworker	Family Service Specialist Trainee, Family Service Specialist 2–1 5 classes	$63,663 – $117,228
Child Support Officer	Child Support Specialist Trainee, Child Support Specialist 1–3 4 classes	$58,222 – $122,832
Civil Engineer (DOT / city / county)	Civil Engineer Trainee 2 classes	$62,917 – $71,493
Contract / Procurement Specialist	Assistant Buyer, Buyer, +2 more 9 classes	$58,222 – $141,386
Correctional Officer (state prison)	Correctional Police Officer Apprentice, Correctional Police Officer, Senior Correctional Police Officer 4 classes	$50,000 – $123,104
Crime Scene Investigator / Forensic Technician	Forensic Scientist 1–3 3 classes	$79,844 – $148,187
Custodian (schools & public buildings)	Housekeeper 1–2 2 classes	$38,641 – $59,027
Detective / Criminal Investigator	Special Agent Trainee, Special Agent 3–1 4 classes	$68,381 – $151,323
Engineering Technician (DOT)	Engineering Technician Apprentice, Engineering Technician 1–4 8 classes	$46,727 – $101,951
Environmental Compliance Inspector	Environmental Compliance Inspector 2–1 2 classes	$59,763 – $101,951
Environmental Engineer	Environmental Engineer 1–4, Environmental Engineer Trainee 11 classes	$60,876 – $141,386
Environmental Scientist (government)	Environmental Specialist 1–4, Environmental Scientist 1–3 16 classes	$60,876 – $155,359
Epidemiologist	Public Health Epidemiologist 1 class	$79,844 – $117,228
Fire / Arson Investigator	Fire Investigator 1 class	$83,582 – $122,832
Fish & Game Warden	Conservation Police Officer 1–3 3 classes	$76,748 – $142,870
Fleet Mechanic (city/county)	Mechanic Trainee, Automotive Mechanic 3 classes	$43,934 – $79,523
Forester	Forester Trainee, Forester 2 classes	$55,691 – $88,743
Forestry Technician (USFS)	Forestry Technician 1 class	$52,308 – $75,954
GIS Analyst / Specialist	Geographic Information Systems Specialist Trainee, Geographic Information Systems Specialist 3–1 8 classes	$60,876 – $141,386
Government Attorney (agency counsel)	Attorney 1–3 3 classes	No fixed rate
Government Auditor	Auditor 1–2 9 classes	$60,876 – $128,719
Grants Specialist / Manager	Grants Manager, Grants Specialist 3 classes	$59,132 – $134,900
Heavy Equipment Operator (government)	Equipment Operator, Heavy Equipment Operator 3 classes	$43,934 – $75,954
IT Specialist (government)	Information Technology Specialist 2 classes	$66,592 – $106,798
Judicial Law Clerk	Law Clerk 1 class	$63,663 – $92,953
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government)	Clerk, Clerk Typist, +4 more 7 classes	$39,358 – $64,522
OSHA / Workplace Safety Inspector	Safety Inspector, Senior Safety Inspector 3 classes	$50,059 – $83,211
Parole Officer	Parole Officer Recruit, Senior Parole Officer 4 classes	$65,482 – $141,276
Public Defender	Assistant Public Defender, Public Defender 2 classes	$111,503 – $172,108
Public Information Officer	Public Information Officer, Public Information Specialist 2–4 3 classes	$62,091 – $86,926
Social Worker (government)	Social Worker Trainee, Social Worker 2–1 3 classes	$53,282 – $92,953
State Trooper / Highway Patrol Officer	Trooper 2–1, State Police Recruit 4 classes	$71,861 – $131,815
Stationary Engineer (public facilities)	Boiler Operator 1 class	$43,934 – $63,341
Urban / City Planner	Planner Trainee, Assistant Planner, +2 more 8 classes	$55,691 – $122,832
Veterans Service Officer	Veterans Services Officer Trainee, Veterans Service Officer 3–1 4 classes	$55,691 – $117,228
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor	Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 1–2 2 classes	$63,663 – $106,798
Wildlife / Fisheries Biologist	Assistant Biologist Fisheries, Senior Biologist Fisheries, Principal Biologist Fisheries 3 classes	$60,876 – $117,228

Classes are matched to jobs 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.

Public employers in New Jersey

Fire departments · 170

Employer	City	Career firefighters	Website
Newark Fire Division	Newark	600	—
Jersey City Fire Department	Jersey City	561	—
Paterson Fire Department	Paterson	330	Official site
Elizabeth Fire Department	Elizabeth	269	—
North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue	West New York	265	—
Atlantic City Fire Department	Atlantic City	235	—
Trenton Fire Department	Trenton	219	Official site
City of Camden Fire Department	Camden	184	Official site
East Orange Fire Department	East Orange	168	—
Bayonne Fire Department	Bayonne	167	Official site

All 170 fire departments in New Jersey →

Transit agencies · 17

Employer	City	Vehicles operated directly	Website
New Jersey Transit Corporation	Newark	2,717	Official site
Somerset County	Somerville	58	Official site
Port Authority Transit Corporation	Camden	54	Official site
County of Atlantic	Atlantic City	29	Official site
Cape May County	Cape May Court House	26	Official site
County of Mercer	Trenton	25	Official site
Sussex County	Newton	25	Official site
South Jersey Transportation Authority	Blackwood	23	Official site
Cumberland County	Bridgeton	20	Official site
Morris County	Morristown	20	Official site

All 17 transit agencies in New Jersey →

School districts · 560

Employer	City	Teachers (FTE)	Website
Newark Public School District	Newark	2,841	Official site
Elizabeth Public Schools	Elizabeth	2,182	Official site
Jersey City Public Schools	Jersey City	2,137	Official site
Paterson Public School District	Paterson	1,733	Official site
Edison Township School District	Edison	1,241	Official site
Woodbridge Township School District	Woodbridge	1,220	Official site
Toms River Regional School District	Toms River	1,050	Official site
Hamilton Township Public School District	Hamilton	990	Official site
Trenton Public School District	Trenton	990	Official site
Passaic City School District	Passaic	963	Official site

All 560 school districts in New Jersey →

Police departments · 488

Municipal and county police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 488 police departments in New Jersey →

Sheriff's offices · 21

County sheriff's offices in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 21 sheriff's offices in New Jersey →

Campus police departments · 16

College and university police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 16 campus police departments in New Jersey →

Sources: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), National Fire Department Registry; Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database 2024 — Reporter Agency Information; National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, 2024–25 local education agency universe (directory and staff); Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay for government jobs in New Jersey

Median wage in New Jersey for each job's occupation (all employers in the state), next to the national median in government. Largest occupations first.

Job	Workers in NJ	Median in NJ	National, government
Correctional Nurse SOC 29-1141	92,680	$106,500	$100,490
Public Health Nurse SOC 29-1141	92,680	$106,500	$100,490
School Nurse SOC 29-1141	92,680	$106,500	$100,490
VA Nurse (Veterans Affairs) SOC 29-1141	92,680	$106,500	$100,490
Custodian (schools & public buildings) SOC 37-2011	67,660	$37,630	$39,640
Administrative Assistant (government) SOC 43-6014	65,960	$50,260	$48,290
School Secretary / Office Manager SOC 43-6014	65,960	$50,260	$48,290
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government) SOC 43-9061	65,130	$48,570	$46,170
IRS Customer Service Representative SOC 43-4051	59,690	$47,740	$45,860
Paraprofessional / Teacher Aide SOC 25-9045	55,580	$37,290	$36,990
City / County Manager SOC 11-1021	53,000	$173,690	$137,300
Accountant (government) SOC 13-2011	42,250	$100,830	$81,390
Government Auditor SOC 13-2011	42,250	$100,830	$81,390
Elementary School Teacher SOC 25-2021	40,300	$78,200	$65,310
Public School Teacher (hub) SOC 25-2021	40,300	$78,200	$65,310
ESL / ELL Teacher SOC 25-2031	38,140	$82,200	$74,220
High School Teacher SOC 25-2031	38,140	$82,200	$74,220
Child Support Officer SOC 13-1199	34,210	$91,060	$91,060
Death Investigator / Coroner SOC 13-1199	34,210	$91,060	$91,060
Foreign Service Officer (diplomat) SOC 13-1199	34,210	$91,060	$91,060
Grants Specialist / Manager SOC 13-1199	34,210	$91,060	$91,060
Parks / Grounds Maintenance Worker SOC 37-3011	30,470	$41,360	$40,080
Middle School Teacher SOC 25-2022	23,650	$78,770	$65,300
Government Attorney (agency counsel) SOC 23-1011	23,160	$161,430	$134,680
Prosecutor / Assistant District Attorney SOC 23-1011	23,160	$161,430	$134,680
Public Defender SOC 23-1011	23,160	$161,430	$134,680
Policy / Management Analyst SOC 13-1111	22,080	$105,820	$96,570
Program Analyst (federal) SOC 13-1111	22,080	$105,820	$96,570
Border Patrol Agent SOC 33-3051	21,780	$92,610	$76,300
Campus / University Police Officer SOC 33-3051	21,780	$92,610	$76,300

Several jobs can share one occupation code.

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.

Government jobs in New Jersey